Written on: March 28, 2022
When it gets extremely cold, your heating system may not be able to keep your house as warm as you want it, perhaps because of its size or efficiency level. But another common reason for a chilly home can be traced to poor insulation levels.
Most homes are under-insulated. Adding enough to meet recommended R-values is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve your home’s overall efficiency and comfort. Read the Energy Department’s Guide to Home Insulation.
Here are our own tips to help make sure your home is adequately insulated.
Besides reducing heating costs, a properly insulated foundation will keep below-grade rooms more comfortable and prevent moisture problems, insect infestation, and radon infiltration.
Loose-fill or batt insulation is typically installed in an attic. Loose-fill insulation is usually less expensive to install than batt insulation, and provides better coverage when installed properly.
If the ducts in your home are in unheated or non-air-conditioned space, be sure that they are well sealed and insulated. Have the condition of your ductwork checked periodically so you can head off energy waste.
Properly insulating your cathedral ceilings will allow ceiling temperatures to remain closer to room temperatures, providing an even distribution throughout your house.
Cathedral ceilings must provide space between the roof deck and home’s ceiling for adequate insulation and ventilation. This can be achieved through the use of truss joists, scissor truss framing or sufficiently large rafters.
It’s always a good idea to insulate part, if not all, of your basement. A properly insulated basement can save you money on heating and provide dry, comfortable extra living space. You should install insulation in the basement ceiling, sealing off any foundation leaks, insulating rim joists and sill plates, which are major sources of heat loss in many homes.
When you’re insulating floors above unheated or uncooled garages, all possible sources of air leakage should be sealed first. This has the added benefit of minimizing the danger of contaminants (from car exhaust, paint, solvents, gardening supplies, etc.) in the garage migrating into the conditioned space.
Additionally, you seal around electrical outlets and any exterior venting to eliminate drafts and cold spots. If you are considering finishing your basement to create extra livable space, be sure to insulate the walls and the floor for extra comfort.
We hope the above suggestions are useful in maintaining a higher level of comfort in your home. Contact us if you have any questions about increasing your home’s comfort and saving money on your heating (and cooling) costs.
A secure supply, ultra clean-burning B20 Bioheat® fuel, and a superior service department are among the attributes that make Westmore Fuel stand out. We provide B20 Bioheat fuel and service to Darien, Greenwich, Stamford, and nearby communities in Connecticut. We also deliver our B20 Bioheat fuel and service to New York communities, including Port Chester, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, and White Plains.
Full online customer access, remote wireless dispatch for fuel delivery and service, a fleet of vehicles equipped with GPS, and 24-hour emergency heating service are just some of the other ways we provide customers with the Westmore Advantage.