How to Insulate an Unheated Basement
The Department of Energy reports that heating and cooling systems in U.S. households consume 40 to 60 percent of the energy bill. With the rising costs of energy, insulating your home's attic, walls and unheated basement is a smart way to save money and improve the comfort of your home. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Dust mask
- Safety goggles
- Heavy-duty work gloves
- Expanding foam spray in a can
- Foam pipe insulation
- Utility knife
- Measuring tape
- Unfaced fiberglass batts
- Staple gun with staples
- Wire or wire mesh, cut into strips
- Thin metal flashing
- Tin snips
- Hammer
- Nails
Instructions
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Preparation
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1
With expanding foam spray, seal all air leaks in the basement ceiling. Begin at the rim joists above the foundation walls and work your way around pipes, holes for electrical wiring, and any cracks or openings.
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2
Install pipe insulation to hot water pipes. Use the measuring tape to measure the insulation and the utility knife to cut the sections.
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3
Cut and wrap the metal flashing into baffles to encircle electrical fixtures and to wrap around the chimney and flues where they intersect with the basement ceiling; staple or nail into place. Ensure that there are at least 3 inches of space between the fixture and where you will place the fiberglass insulation; this is for fire safety clearance.
Insulate the basement ceiling
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4
Measure and cut the fiberglass batts with the utility knife to fit in between the basement ceiling joists.
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5
Working in small sections at a time, fit the batts in snugly between the joists and in cavities. Do not compact or compress the batts, as this will reduce the effectiveness of the insulation.
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6
Staple the wire or strips of wire mesh to the joists to hold the fiberglass batts in place. Space them as needed to prevent the batts from sagging.
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7
Insulate around, not over, electrical fixtures or other heat-producing fixtures.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when working with insulation.
Insulate your furnace ducts for even more energy efficiency.
The Department of Energy has recommendations on insulation R-value, based on climate zones; for colder climates, the recommended minimum value for floors over unheated areas is R-25.
Never insulate over electrical fixtures or other heat-producing fixtures.
If you have excessive condensation in your basement, you may need to add a ventilation system to reduce the chances of mold growth.
Do not insulate a basement with water problems or leaks. Fix the water problems before insulating to reduce mold growth.
