Crawl Space Insulation
Welcome to our website. Here you will be able to find everything you ever wanted to know about crawl space insulation.
Installing crawl space insulation is one of the easiest ways to cut your heating and cooling costs in your home. Many people overlook the importance installing insulation under their home, and that is a big mistake. Installing insulation in your crawl space is every bit as important as installing insulation in the attic or the walls.
How can crawl space insulation protect you?
This insulation helps in a couple of ways. First, by insulating properly, you are protecting your pipes and the infrastructure of your house from freezing in the cold winter months. Second, the insulation will help make it easier for your heating and air conditioning to maintain a constant temperature in your home. The more constant the temperature remains, the lower your electric bills will run. Finally, the insulation will help to eliminate moisture under your home and prevent your home from developing mold or other moisture related problems which can get very expensive over the long haul.
What are the most common types of crawl space insulation?
Fiberglass rolls and fiberglass batts are used most often, but it is certainly acceptable to use foam board, crawl space foam insulation, crawl space spray insulation, or crawl space wall insulation as well. Fiberglass batts are extremely easy to install and will probably be your cheapest option.
What do you need to look out for?
The biggest question when it comes to "crawl space insulation" is whether or not your crawl space is ventilated. In the past many homes were built with ventilated crawl space as it was believed to help keep the moisture out better. Over the years, however, people have discovered that ventilated crawl spaces are not very energy efficient and actually trap moisture in during the cold summer months and retain humidity in the summer. In either case, you need to know what you are working with so you can choose the proper insulation.
Can you install crawl space insulation yourself?
Of course you can, but there are a few things you need to know. The entire area beneath your house needs to be sealed. Next, make sure you always have the proper equipment including long pants and sleeves, gloves, and goggles. If you are unsure about any of this then he may be best to call in an expert or professional to do the work. If your area is ventilated then we recommend an R-value of 20, however, if you are working in an unventilated area then opt for the R-value of 10.
How do you prepare the area?
We've already mentioned the need for sealing off the area and this is very important. You want everything to be air tight. There should not be anything that is allowing air to get into the home. Also, if your pipes are exposed then you should take the necessary steps to wrap them separately. This takes care of two main issues. First, it keeps them safe in the winter to eliminate freezing and bursting. In the summer, it helps to prevent the water from losing any heat.
Installing crawl space insulation is necessary to protecting your home and saving on expensive repairs and maintenance down the road. The task is something you can do yourself, but if you don't know exactly what you are doing then it's best to call in a professional for your crawl space insulation.