Most crawl spaces and basements have little or no insulation, which causes energy bills to increase because of heat loss. Completely insulating your crawl space and basement not only helps with high energy bills, but will also help keep your home from growing mold and mildew – something that is very hazardous to your health.
Crawl spaces are narrow areas in the dirt under your home and they tend to absorb the natural cold of the earth. So, it’s important to have the right type of insulation and the right amount of insulation to make sure that the crawl space is retaining the proper temperature and that heat is not escaping.
If you have heating and cooling equipment and ducts in your crawl space, it’s especially important to install insulation as the fluctuation in temperature will cause your heating and cooling systems to work harder, leading to rising energy costs.
Types of Insulation for Crawl Spaces
While there are different types of insulation for crawl spaces, it’s important to choose the types that don’t allow air or moisture to travel in. Spray foam insulation and rigid foam board insulation provide excellent air sealing and thermal resistance. They are unfriendly to mold as they won’t absorb moisture or be damaged by it. They also don’t allow air to pass through, making it ideal for both cold and hot months. When properly installed to fit against the interior face of the crawl space foundation walls, these types of insulations will provide decades of reliable protection.
While fiberglass batt insulation is usually the cheapest for insulating crawl spaces, several problems that tend to occur as this kind of insulation doesn’t have a barrier to keep air from passing through and can also easily absorb water if it gets wet – making it more susceptible to mold.
Spray foam and rigid foam insulations may cost more upfront but will pay off in the end as you won’t need to redo the damaged or ineffective installation.
Insulation is Important in Basements
Basements throughout Long Island, especially in older homes, are often underinsulated. Improving the basement insulation can significantly reduce monthly heating bills and ensure more comfort during the freezing winters and scorching summers.
Many older homes have fiberglass batt insulation installed between basement ceiling joists, but this doesn’t prevent air from seeping out or moisture from seeping in. Therefore, upgrading to a reliable insulation can transform your damp and cold basement into a dry and comfortable area, while also lowering your energy bills. Insulating your basement’s walls with either spray foam insulation or rigid foam insulation will create a firm barrier against both air and moisture.
