Ten Things That You Need To Insulate Before Winter Arrives

Many homeowners wonder why they have issues with their home not being comfortable in the winter. Well, the reason is that winter wreaks havoc on your home regardless of how good or bad it is. Here are ten things that you should insulate before winter arrives in order to make sure that your home is comfortable and protected this winter.

 

Pipes

When temperatures start to drop below freezing, your plumbing may be in danger. Pipes where water tends to linger, unprotected by the insulation that guards the rest of your home, can freeze on particularly cold nights. The expanding ice can even crack pipes and flood homes – a disaster you definitely want to avoid. Make sure that pipes in cold areas are properly insulated and protected when you expect the temperature to drop below freezing.

 

Your Attic

Heat rises, and to keep it inside your house, you need to make sure your attic space is properly insulated – and that means taking care of empty corners and shallow areas where insulation may not have been set correctly. Note: Remember your attic always needs an appropriate amount of ventilation. Otherwise, condensation builds up and can cause many problems. Don't close up any vents without first consulting an expert.

 

New Exterior Walls

Existing exterior walls should already be insulated thanks to building codes and best practices. However, that is not always the case, but more importantly, walls from recent renovations should also be insulated: Basically, any wall that faces the outside requires adequate insulation.

 

Renovated Basements

With proper floor insulation, you may not need to worry about insulating a rarely used basement area. But if you plan on controlling the temperature in your basement, you're going to need the proper insulation for your foundation walls. Keep in mind that this should also include the proper moisture barriers so you don't run into trouble later on.

 

Doors and Windows

Weatherstripping around doors and windows keeps cold air out and warm air in. Without weatherstripping, small spaces will leak air and cost you money. Check the weatherstripping around your house: If it's worn or missing, then it's time for a replacement.

 

Upper Roof Trusses

Roof crawl spaces are usually insulated, but a frequent problem occurs when insulation settles only around the lower end of roof trusses. The cold winter air forces the top of the trusses to contract while the heated bottom ends expand. This can cause groaning noises from your roof and structural damage over time. If your roof experiences these problems, you may want to improve your insulation. If you aren't sure what your roof insulation looks like, it's probably worth a look.

 

Cold Floors

If a floor is open to the outside air (this sometimes happens with upper-level expansions) or to an uninsulated foundation, it too should be insulated. If your basement lacks even basic insulation, you should add it.

 

Crawl spaces

If you don't have an attic or basement, you may be tempted to ignore the hidden portions of the home. However, there's no guarantee your crawlspace is properly insulated without inspection. Brush up on insulation basics and make sure your crawl space is protected.

 

Places Where Insulation is Old or Damaged

Moisture, pests, mold, and other problems can damage insulation, especially older insulation that has faced a lot of tough winters and may not be adequately protected. It's worth an inspection to see if any of your insulation looks worn or torn. If so, replace it.

 

Seal the Rim Joists

Uninsulated rim joists are huge energy losers. Now's the time to insulate and seal your rim joists. One option is to seal the rim joists with rigid insulation cut to fit. We recommend a minimum of 2-in.-thick extruded polystyrene, but check your local codes to see what's required. If you have a table saw, use it to cut strips equal to the depth of your joists. Then use a fine-tooth handsaw, utility knife or miter saw to cut the strips to length. Fill small gaps with caulk, and larger ones with expanding spray foam from a can.

 

Insulating your home before the winter comes can and will save you a lot of frustration, headaches, and additional costs that need to be fixed during the winter and spring. More importantly by insulating your home before winter you are able to make sure that your home is comfortable year-round while seeing a reduction in how hard your HVAC system has to run, in turn saving you money in the long run. Give us a call at 1-845-361-1110, or visit us at foamcoinc.com to schedule your no-obligation consultation with one of our expert Insulation Specialists today!