What is the most important part of a house to insulate?

Attic. Arguably the most important space in the home to insulate is the attic. This is primarily because heat naturally rises, which means that the attic will hold a lot of the heat generated in the home. During the winter, having that heat escape through the attic will push up energy bills.

usiinc.com - What Specific Locations Within My House Should I Insulate?

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Adding insulation to new construction or to an existing home can help reduce utility bills and create a more comfortable environment. Some homeowners are committed to insulating their home, but not sure where to start. These are some of the specific locations of the home where you should insulate. In addition to the below information, you can also view our interactive home insulation guide which goes into additional detail on the specific types of insulation in each of these areas.

Attic

Arguably the most important space in the home to insulate is the attic. This is primarily because heat naturally rises, which means that the attic will hold a lot of the heat generated in the home. During the winter, having that heat escape through the attic will push up energy bills. Batt, blown-in and spray insulation are three fantastic options for the attic.

Walls

Just like in the attic, adding insulation to the walls of a home can reduce the energy needed to heat or cool the space, resulting in lower utility bills. In addition, insulated walls can give residents more privacy as insulated walls do a better job of blocking sound. This allows children, teens, parents or roommates get along better.

Floors

Although heat rises, a lot of conditioned air can still be lost through flooring. This is especially true in the case of floors over unheated areas like garages or basements. Adding in insulation, which could be spray, blow-in or batt insulation, can help protect the heated and cooled air generated by your heating and air conditioning systems. Once again, insulated floors can also help reduce noise, particularly in multi-level homes where residents live on different floors.

Crawlspace

Whether ventilated or unventilated, adding insulation to a crawlspace can be a smart move for an energy aware homeowner. Insulated crawlspaces can help retain heat throughout the house, but it can also ensure that pipes and ductwork within the crawlspace can’t freeze, even when outdoor temperatures are extraordinarily low.

Basement

This is one part of the house where insulation is often overlooked, but it can have tremendous benefits for a homeowner. In a finished basement, insulation can render the room into a suitable living space, adding square footage to the home. Even an unfinished basement can have insulated floors to help retain heat in the home.

Professional Help

To learn more about the five areas in your house that should be insulated, view our interactive home insulation guide. Or to schedule an appointment for free quote, contact USI online. USI believes that excellence in every step of the process and ensures timely completion and quality of service, time after time.

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What part of a house should you insulate first?

You should insulate all exterior walls. This even includes walls that are between living spaces and unheated spaces such as an unheated garage. Floors – You should also consider insulating the floors of your home. This can help stop air from leaking between floors or even into the ground.

crawlspacemedic.com - What Part Of A House Should You Insulate First? - Crawlspace Medic

A quick way to know if you should consider adding insulation to your home is how the temperature feels in different parts of your home. Cold or uneven temperatures can indicate there is not enough insulation installed. You can start by scheduling a home energy audit. An expert can check on the current insulation in your home and find any air leaks or other problems. They can also see how much, what kind, and where the insulation is. This will help them create a plan for where to add additional insulation or if any needs to be replaced. You could also inspect the house yourself. You will need to look around to figure out where the home is or is not insulated. You will also need to know the type of insulation in the home, the R-value, and the thickness or depth of the insulation. You may be able to get this information from the builder if you are insulating a newer home. In the attic, walls, and floors near an unheated space, structural supports are usually visible. You should be able to see the type of insulation and measure the depth yourself in these areas. For exterior walls, you can use an electrical outlet. First, shut off the power to the outlet and remove the cover. Then, shine a flashlight into the area around the outlet box. There should be a gap between the box and the rest of the wall. Using this gap, see if there is any insulation in the wall and how thick, if possible. You can also pull some insulation out to find out what kind it is. Just be sure to check the insulation in all areas of the house as it can be different in different areas.