4 Ways To Add Insulation To Your Home

A well-insulated home will save you money on energy costs and keep you more comfortable indoors on both cold and hot days. Insulation also prevents excess moisture from building up within the walls, which keeps problems like mold and mildew from forming. You may also find that wood furniture and appliances hold up better in an insulated home and tend to require less maintenance. The truth is that having your home insulated by a professional is one of the most important aspects of protecting it from wear and tear due to the various outdoor elements it's undoubtedly exposed to.

If the entirety of your home isn't already properly insulated, a service technician can easily add insulation without sacrificing the integrity of your structure. If insulation is in place but is showing signs of wear, it's a good idea to have a professional repair those areas to ensure optimal performance. Here are 4 ways to add even more weatherproofing protection to your home:

Take Care Of The Doors And Windows

The doors and windows of your home can be a serious source of unwanted drafts and moisture. Luckily, you don't have to live in a windowless cave in order to get the protection you need on those uncomfortably cold or hot days. Here are a few ways to add some extra insulation to your windows and entryways:

  • Use caulking around the frames of all doors that lead to the outside, including in the basement and garage.
  • Use spray foam insulation between the window panes and frames in all spaces, including the attic.
  • Apply insulation film to the exterior of your windows – they come in a variety of shades for ease of creating a unique home design.

Consider replacing your traditional curtains or blinds with dual shades. They effectively reflect the heat away from your home during the summer, and keep heat inside during winter months.

Add Some Coziness To Your Flooring

Adding throw rugs to any room helps improve the effectiveness of your home's insulation. Area carpets trap cold air underneath them so that it can't mix with the warm air in the room. This helps to take some pressure off your home's main insulation, and may even provide a notable savings on your energy bills. Choose thick throw carpets with high thread counts for optimal protection. Wool, nylon, and acrylic materials are all effective options to consider.

Protect Your Exposed Plumbing

One of the things your home's base insulation can't fully protect is your exposed plumbing. Any pipes exposed in the attic, basement, and underneath the house need a little attention to ensure proper performance and minimize the occurrence of damage. It's easy to protect your exposed pipes with these methods:

  • Use foam pipe insulation to wrap exposed pipes that are indoors, like in the basement.
  • Apply thermostatically controlled heat tape around the exposed pipes on the exterior of your home, including around the base of your spigots.
  • Use spray foam insulation or caulking around the areas where your pipes enter the home.

Consider having your pipes inspected by a professional before insulating them to ensure that they don't already have small cracks or leaks that need to be repaired first.

Plant A Few Trees

Mature trees in your yard help to protect your home from heat and chill throughout the year, which makes less work for your home's insulation. Trees can also increase your property value by up to 10 percent. Plant trees in front of windows that get direct sunlight during the day, as well as near your exterior HVAC unit if you have one. Opt for deciduous trees as they lose their leaves and allow the sun to naturally heat your home in the winter, but have full heads of leaves in the summer to protect your home from excessive heat.

These tips and tricks will protect the integrity of your home for decades to come, and save you plenty of money along the way. For more information, contact a company like Reitzel Insulation Co Ltd.


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