Now You Can Improve Your Insulation at Home and Also Experience Comfort This Winter Season.

A drafty room is one example of wasted energy. It’s also the reason why your monthly energy bills are also higher than they should be. Air leakage also leads to significant problems that directly impact the home environment. For instance, a home that leaks air can result in an uncomfortable environment, has moisture problems, or suffers from poor indoor air quality.  In most circumstances such as these we find that sometimes a home is either improperly insulated or is severely under-insulated. We highlight 5 overlooked locations that you should consider either insulating or air sealing.  After upgrading your existing insulation we will have you enjoying the comforts of your insulation at home in a matter of time.

The Fireplace

Exhaust from the chimney creates creosote buildup (a dark, flammable tar deposit from woodsmoke that builds up on the walls of a chimney). This prohibits the fireplace from working properly. Insulation offers peek energy performance for your chimney. It also protects the masonry from harmful flue gases  Finally, fireplaces that have metal boxes are known to be a good conductor of heat. However, during the summer and winter months, both warm and cool air is drawn into the home from the outside.  This allows unwanted air to filter in and out of the home through the fireplace. We suggest insulating the back wall areas of your fireplace with spray foam insulation. Spray foam is designed to air seal and insulate your home, preventing warm air from escaping and up through the chimney area.

Attics

Homes that don’t have insulation in the attic area are prone to wasting energy when the warm and cold air inside the home infiltrates the attic space. Attic stairs, small holes, and exhaust fans are examples of locations where a draft is capable of entering the house.  Have you considered inspecting your roof?  If you notice icicles hanging from your roof, this could be one reason why warm air is escaping from inside the home.

In circumstances such as these, you should contact an insulation contractor to discuss the different types of spray foam insulation options that are available to you. The great thing about spray foam is that it’s guaranteed to keep you and your family warm in winter, cool in summer and comfortable all year round.  After upgrading your attic insulation why not enjoy the benefits of your insulation at home.

Electrical Devices

Areas like your electric box, wall outlets, and light switches are severely under-insulated.  The electric box is an open and un-insulated area that’s responsible for a large portion of wasted energy. Fortunately, there’s an easy solution that addresses this problem. A skilled air sealing contractor can easily seal gaps and cracks around tricky areas such as outlets, light fixtures, and the electrical box area. When electrical areas have been properly air sealed it creates a tight seal around the object.

Cold Floors Above Unheated Garage

Cold air lingers around the surface area of the home. This is one potential reason why you could have cold floors. However, insulating an unheated floor above a garage presents a whole new set of challenges. Most contractors will first air seal all entry areas that have the potential to leak air. Once the air sealing process has been completed, an air barrier is installed. In some cases, contractors prefer to use spray foam insulation. That’s because spray foam acts as both an air barrier and air seals underneath the subfloor. This prevents cool air from penetrating the surface  Spray foam expands 100 times its original size.  Spray foam is designed to fill gaps and crevices. Other forms of insulation such as fiberglass and rockwool insulation are incapable of accomplishing this particular task.

Bonus Room

A un-insulated bonus room can potentially reach temperatures as low as ten degrees Fahrenheit.  Some common problems include frozen pipes and buckling hardwood floors due to lack of moisture control.  When room temperatures are cold it can make for an uncomfortable living environment.  There are advantages to insulating a bonus room, such as improved energy efficiency and indoor air quality.

Next Steps

If you believe that any of these areas that we’ve discussed is a source of wasted energy in your home, contact us and we will help you develop a plan of action to solve your specific energy-related problems and discuss the different types of insulation options that are available to you.