5 Home Insulation Tips That Can Save You Lots of Money

There's a good chance that high heating bills aredo-it-yourselfers can install weatherstripping pretty
here to stay. As the prices of natural gas andeasily. Just make sure to do it in temperatures
heating oil go up, homeowners will find themselvesabove 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, always apply
paying more and more to heat their homes in theweatherstripping to clean, dry surfaces to
winter. Fortunately, you can offset some of themaximize effectiveness and ensure that it lasts
price increases by beefing up your home insulation.for a long time.
In fact, most homeowners can save 30 percent3. Use expansion foam for small spaces.
or more on home heating costs by making a fewExpansion foam insulation works great for filling
inexpensive home improvements!small openings that allow heat to escape. Some
Older homes are often most in need of anexamples include the spaces behind electric switch
insulation upgrade. But don't assume that, becauseplates on exterior walls, openings where plumbing
you have a newer home, it's as well-insulated aspipes enter the house, and the small openings that
possible. Many homes built after 1980 haveare used to run electricity, cable, and internet lines
inadequate insulation because local building codesinto your home. All together these little spaces
aren't up-to-date with US Department of Energyadd up to a lot of heat loss and a little bit of
recommendations. Also, occasionally home-buildersinexpensive expansion foam can save you a lot
do scrimp on "little" things like insulation to lowerof money on your heating bill.
costs and increase profits.4. Don't forget the basement.
Here are some relatively simple and inexpensiveHome basements and crawlspaces often have
steps you can take to lower your heating bills thismany little openings that let heat escape. This is
winter:especially true if they are unfinished. Use
1. Increase attic insulation.paper-faced insulation on exposed ceiling joists and
Your attic is a big source of home heat loss andstuff small pieces of insulation into open crevices
is one of the easiest places to get in to. If yourat the juncture of basement walls and the ceiling.
attic does not have at least 12 inches of insulationAlso, you might want to pump some expansion
you can lay paperless rolls of insulation on top offoam insulation into any small openings around the
existing insulation, including cellulose or vermiculate.foundation, which are usually no more than an inch
These types of insulation tend to "compact" overor two wide.
time, reducing their effectiveness.5. Use window curtains and blinds.
By the way, a well-insulated attic is always cold. IfOne of the simplest ways to reduce heat loss
you see icicles dangling from the eaves of yourthrough windows is to use curtains and blinds.
home it means that warm air in the attic isThey can be closed at night to trap cold air and
melting snow and the water runoff is re-freezingopened during the day to allow sunlight to
(which can also cause significant damage to yournaturally warm the house. Remember that the
roof!). Get in there and insulate until the air is verythicker the curtain, the more effective it will be at
cold.insulating your house.
2. Use weatherstripping around windows andAs you can see, none of the home insulation
doors.steps above are too difficult or too expensive to
Lots of heat is lost through the spaces aroundaccomplish. But they will save you a ton of
windows and doors. Modern weatherstrippingmoney over the years. Take advantage of them
materials are inexpensive and very effective atand you just might find this year's heating bills to
minimizing the loss of warm air (and money). Mostbe lower than expected!