Installing Insulation in a Crawl Space
A crawl space under a house is an open area that is used to access plumbing and wiring. As such, a crawl space that is not properly insulated can act as a funnel in which cold air can blow around or get trapped. This can, in turn, cause the floor of the house to be cold. Installing insulation in a crawl space to keep cold air from entering the house can be done by following a few steps. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Remove any debris and loose material from the crawl space floor. Insulation will not work as effectively as it should if there is an excess of foreign material in the crawl space.
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Decide on the type of insulation to use. Depending on how your crawl space is configured, there are two types that will work: insulation that comes in rolls of different thicknesses (R-values) and insulation that is blown in with a compressor. In all probability, the roll insulation will be the better solution for your crawl space because it will be easier to install and will still allow for access to plumbing and wiring. Determine the ideal R-value of the insulation needed for your crawl space by consulting an R-value chart (see Resources).
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Measure between your floor joists to find out whether you need 15- or 23-inch-wide rolls. Then use an insulation calculator (see Resources) to calculate the square feet of insulation you need for the job. Figure out how many insulation supports you need by dividing the number of square feet of insulation calculated above by 4 for 15-inch-wide rolls or by 5 for 23-inch-wide rolls. To prevent any ground moisture that may be present in your crawl space from penetrating your insulation, you will also need enough polyethylene to cover your crawl space floor. Purchase the insulation, insulation supports and polyethylene at a home improvement store, such as Lowe's or Home Depot.
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Install the polyethylene to cover the crawl space floor, making sure to leave at least a 16-inch overlapping seam between strips; secure the seams with duct tape. Begin on one side of your crawl space, installing insulation between floor joists till the ceiling is fully insulated. Install insulation supports at least every 36 inches to secure the insulation to the ceiling. Leave enough room to move around in the crawl space when placing insulation. If too much insulation is used, pipes or wiring may be hard to reach.
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Take a good look around the crawl space and see if there are any gaps, as well as exposed pipes. Using your utility knife, cut various pieces to the sizes needed from a roll of insulation. Using duct tape, secure appropriately sized pieces around pipes and use small pieces to stuff any gaps that you find in the underside of the floor.
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Tips & Warnings
If your house doesn't have very good insulation under the floor or if you live in an area with extreme wintertime temperatures, you may need to install another layer of insulation in your crawl space.
Do not pack the whole crawl space with insulation, as some air circulation is needed.
