Where to insulate in a house · Attic insulation · Duct insulation · Cathedral-type roof insulation · Exterior wall insulation · Insulating floors above unheated garages. To find out if you have sufficient insulation in the attic, measure the thickness of the insulation. If it's less than an equivalent to the R-30 (about 10 to 13 inches), you could probably benefit from adding more. Before insulating, seal any air leaks and make necessary roof repairs and other necessary repairs.
If you are in a conditioned part of the house, remember to also insulate and seal the access to the attic with air. To determine if you should add insulation, you must first find out how much insulation you already have in your home and where it is. A qualified home energy evaluator will include an insulation check as a routine part of an entire home energy assessment. An energy assessment, also known as a home energy audit, will also help identify areas of your home that need air sealing.
Before you insulate it, you must ensure that your house is properly air sealed. To achieve the greatest savings, we recommend hiring a professional contractor. Contractors can consider insulating your home comprehensively. Having air sealing and insulation done by a qualified contractor can significantly help you save energy.
Adding insulation and air sealing to your home helps reduce energy loss, reduces heating and cooling bills, and improves interior comfort. The high-density insulation on the right, with more fibers and air gaps, can offer up to 35 percent more insulating value than standard insulation. Newly insulated mezzanines also need adequate ventilation. The standard procedure is to insulate the ceilings of unheated mezzanines and the walls of heated mezzanines.
To reduce moisture migration, if there is no slab, a 6 thousand polyethylene vapor barrier must be placed on the ground in both cases. At least 1 square foot of ventilation must be installed per 1,500 square feet of floor area. For more information, see How to Install a Vapor Barrier in a Constricted Space. There are regional differences and several codes and interpretations to insulate mezzanines and attics.
Contact a local construction official to ensure that your home complies with the code. A home performance contractor can evaluate and determine the appropriate levels of insulation, air sealing and ventilation for your home. When combined with a proper air seal, the insulation contributes to additional savings in heating and cooling costs. You can locate the leads by lifting the existing insulation in the attic and checking for dark spots of moisture or dust.
Also insulate and air-seal any knee wall (vertical walls with attic space directly behind them) in your home. These techniques improve the R value of the entire wall by reducing thermal bridges and maximizing the area of the insulated wall. In addition, if you live in an area with termites, you'll need to consider how termite protection will affect the choice and location of insulation in your home and plan a means of inspection. When adding insulation to attic beams and floors, it's important to maintain at least 1 inch.
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. If radon is a problem where you live, you'll also need to consider radon- and radon-resistant construction techniques when researching foundation insulation options. Open cell aerosol foam insulation is a non-structural, spray-applied thermal insulation material with a density of half a pound, used in wall cavities, floor assemblies, roof assemblies and in attic applications. These materials literally have built-in insulation, and houses built with these products usually have superior insulating qualities and a minimum thermal bridge.
Insulating a slab in an existing house can be costly and harmful, but if the slab in your house is cold, it is possible to dig around the perimeter of the house and install insulation, usually a foam plate. The optimal insulation materials and foundation location vary depending on the climate, so consult a local insulation professional if you are planning a new home. It is best to locate the access door to the mezzanine inside the house through the subfloor, unless you build and maintain a hermetic, insulated access door on the perimeter wall. .
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