Aerosol foam insulation is the most energy efficient insulation for creating an air barrier in the attic. Attics are one of the easiest and most cost-effective places to add insulation to your home. However, the effectiveness of home insulation will increase considerably if you first seal the air ducts (Fig. A) around chimneys, pipe vents, cables, interior walls and exhaust fans, places where warm and humid indoor air escapes into the attic.
The most economical way to insulate an old house is to fix any air leak. Pulp consumes less energy to manufacture, so it costs less and, in many cases, is a better environmental option. However, fiberglass or mineral wool may be a better choice in wet and windy areas, especially in homes with wood siding, because, unlike cellulose, they do not absorb moisture. Knowing how to insulate the walls of an old house may not be as important as knowing whether to insulate them.
Many homeowners have made the mistake of drilling holes in walls, blowing out cellulose insulation and re-sealing walls hermetically. This method can allow condensation to form within walls. Moisture can build up and eventually cause mold, wood rot and fogged windows. Closed-cell aerosol foam insulation is the most energy efficient wall insulation.
Applications can achieve much higher R values for each inch of thickness than other insulating products, with values as high as R-6.2 per square inch (approximately R-34 on a 2 × 6 wall). Before going to the home care center to ask about insulation or hiring a contractor for installation, it's important to understand the basics. Rugs with an insulating pad on the bottom can also be a low-cost solution, as can heavy fabric curtains with an insulating lining. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that air-sealing a house and adding insulation to the attic, floors above low spaces, and accessible beams on the edges of the basement can save an average of 15 percent on heating and cooling costs, or an average of 11 percent on costs energy totals. Some insulation products are coated with a special barrier designed to decrease heat transfer to the home or reduce the amount of moisture that enters the wall system. Also insulate and air-seal any knee wall (vertical walls with attic space directly behind them) in your home. Simple insulation jobs may be suitable for DIY if a local home improvement or tool rental store has the fan for rent, but it may be worth considering calling a professional for the best result.
Also keep in mind that the floors of older houses often allow heat to escape, and good floor insulation can help prevent this. Termites can tunnel undetected through the insulation of the outer slab to access the wooden structure of the walls of a house. A house with an insulating slab is easier to heat, and placing the mass of the tile inside the thermal envelope of the house helps to moderate indoor temperatures. While most may be familiar with blankets and rolls, there are a few other types of insulation products that are suitable for DIY to increase thermal efficiency and comfort within a home.
The blown insulation is applied by a machine that blows a paper-like material into the space to be isolated. Slatted insulation can be added to the lower part of the roof between the beams, and a layer of lath or loose insulation can be added above the attic floor. Instead of insulating the entire house and causing potential problems such as excess moisture, you can properly seal the attic of an old house. We asked manufacturers and installers of home insulation what questions they answer most often and what errors they see the most.
Adjust the insulation of your home and you'll reduce what you spend on heating and cooling each year, as well as doing your part to consume less energy. .
