3 Common Insulation Mistakes

 

Properly insulating your home is one of the most effective ways to substantially lower your energy costs. For a truly successful insulation job, there are a few pitfalls to avoid.

Blocking attic air flow

The air in your attic is designed to flow in from the soffit vents then out through roof vents. This prevents humidity issues in the attic and extends the life of your roof. Piling insulation on top of soffit vents blocks air flow and will cause long term damage to your attic and roof. An easy way to avoid this problem is to install vent baffles at every soffit vent. Baffles allow air to freely enter the attic and insulation can be closely fitted around them.

Too much

Over-stuffing fiberglass insulation will diminish it’s effectiveness. Fiberglass insulation contains thousands of fiber threads with tiny air pockets in between. It’s these air pockets that slow temperature change. When you pack in and compress fiberglass insulation, there are fewer air pockets thus making it less effective. It’s important to measure carefully and cut fiberglass batts to the exact size you need.

Not enough

One of the most common insulation mistakes is not being thorough and sealing air leaks coming into your home. Installing insulation in the problem areas of your home will not be very beneficial if you have cold air entering your house through gaps and holes. Check for air leaks around doors, windows, dryer vent, bathroom fans, fireplace, wall outlets or anywhere a utility enters your home. Take your time to deal with these small air leaks and that will allow your insulation to operate at it’s peak efficiency.