Is Your Home Losing Heat? It Might Be Time to Upgrade Your Insulation!

If you find yourself shivering even with the heaters turned up, it’s time to consider upgrading your insulation. Your electric bill may also be skyrocketing during winter due to the heat escaping your poorly insulated home. Many older homes have little or no insulation, and even newer homes may have insulation that has lost its effectiveness over time. Knowing when to upgrade your insulation is vital, and here are some things to consider when making this decision:

Homes with Brick Exteriors

Brick walls have a timeless aesthetic and may seem robust, but they may not provide adequate insulation to keep your home warm. First, you need to identify the construction of your walls. Some older homes feature solid brick walls, which often have no additional insulation. Although solid walls can be thick and provide some insulation, they may not be the most effective barriers.

A cavity wall, on the other hand, will consist of two layers with an empty space between them. This cavity was initially designed to keep moisture from reaching the structure’s interior, but if it is left empty, it can lead to higher levels of heat loss. If your cavity walls are in good shape, you can have the cavity filled with an insulating material. This will help improve the barrier and keep the hot air inside. Older homes with cavity walls likely are not insulated, while those made from 1980 to now may already have some insulation.

However, if you notice cracks running across the bricks or mortar, you may be losing heat. More airflow can come into the cavity space, making it easy for cold winter air to reach into the cavity and eventually lower the temperature in your home.

Homes with Traditional Siding

Siding is most often a façade, so it may not provide enough insulation. In some cases, siding is backed by a material meant to provide insulation, but the wall insulation will be between the studs in the wall itself. Fiberglass insulation is an excellent choice as it comes in rolls and sizes designed to fit snugly between the studs following the current building standards.

Newer homes may use spray foam behind the sheetrock instead of fiberglass options. Spray foam insulation provides a strong barrier and is less irritating to install. However, the most challenging part of any insulation replacement efforts in walls is to remove the sheetrock and expose the interior of the walls’ structures. This means installing new sheetrock, taping, mudding, and painting may need to be considered in your budget.

Attic Spaces

Attics may host various insulation options, like cellulose, cotton, mineral wool, sheep’s wool, various foams, or fiberglass. Some fiberglass is blown into the attic space and distributed evenly throughout the area, but it is left fairly loose. Rolled or sheeted insulation can also be used, as well as spray foams.

Depending on the kind of insulation you already have in place, there may be a few feasible insulation options. In some cases, blown-in insulation can be supplemented with new insulation. However, other times, it is best to remove the current insulation and start from scratch. Depending on the space’s structure, a combination approach may also be suitable. For example, you can use spray foam or rolled insulation along the attic ceiling and blow-in insulation across the attic floor. If you plan to finish your attics, you must remove all blown-in insulation as it will not work in the attic you intend to turn into liveable space.

The Results

Regardless of your preferred insulation method, creating a thicker barrier between the interior of your home and the cold outside will produce benefits. Not only will you have a warmer space, but you may also see a reduction in electricity usage. Over time, these savings alone may justify the expense of adding new insulation.

Make your home more energy-efficient and comfortable for your family by upgrading your insulation today!