How to Insulate a House

Your home may benefit from additional insulation in its attic.

Whether it's summertime and your air conditioner is taxed to its limit, or it's winter and there's frost on your pillow, you might want to consider adding some insulation to your home. A properly insulated house will be more comfortable year-round and rack up lower utility bills.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves, masks and protective clothing
• Screwdriver
• Flashlight
• Razor blade

Instructions

1. Choose a type of insulation. Most forms of insulation such as batts, blankets, loose fill and low-density foams work by limiting air movement. Common names for them are fiberglass, cellulose and expanded polystyrene. By controlling airflow, you will reduce convection and minimize conduction, the greatest forms of heat loss. Reflective insulation diminishes loss due to radiation.

2. Because insulation is rated according to its thermal resistance, called the R-value, you'll want to buy insulation that has a high rating, and thus, a high efficiency. Many factors influence insulation rating -- the type of material, the material's thickness and its density. For this reason, choose an insulation type that works best with your home's design and make sure its R-value is high.

3. Decide where to put the insulation. While adding to existing insulation will increase its effectiveness, you will save the most energy by insulating unprotected areas. Common places include uninsulated attic floors, crawlspaces and garages.

4. Insulate exterior walls. If you can protect your home's perimeter, the inside will usually take care of itself. An easy way to check if there is insulation inside the walls is to remove an electrical outlet and use a flashlight to investigate. A more thorough check involves removing exterior siding, but make sure you know how to reinstall it.

5. Check your ductwork. A common place where energy is lost is the ductwork of your heating and air-conditioning system. Ducts will lose hot or cold air if they run through uninsulated spaces like attics or crawlspaces. While insulating the ducts, you should check them for leaks and seal any you find with embedded fiberglass mesh. Despite its name, duct tape is not a good solution because it deteriorates with moisture and age.

6. Examine your pipes. Water pipes are just as susceptible to energy loss as ductwork is. Therefore, if they're located in uninsulated areas, protect them with foam padding or something similar that has a high R-value. Not only will this keep your house warmer, but it will also prevent the pipes from bursting during freezing weather.

Tips & Warnings

• Read the label on all insulation types and follow the manufacturer's instructions to the letter regarding installation.

• Electrical fire-safety codes prohibit packing insulation near certain electrical wiring compartments and recessed fixture enclosures. Obey the codes.

• Protect yourself during installation with clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, gloves, glasses, and masks. Exposure to insulation can cause health problems.

References

• North Dakota State University; Insulating to Reduce Heating Costs; Carl Pedersen, et al.