Insulating your home can be expensive. However, a lot of this expense is due to hiring someone. If you do everything yourself, you can save a ton of money. But that depends on the type of experience you have. If you don’t have the experience, you can hire a contractor who has the expertise you need. For example, if you need specialist repairs by a professional contractor. But, if you can find a spray foam supplier and repair tools online to help you insulate your home, why not do it yourself? Here are a few tips on insulating your home on a budget.
Insulate the Attic
Insulating your attic can be one of the best investments in energy efficiency. Unfortunately, the attic is often the least insulated area of a house, and it’s easy to overlook when considering ways to stay warm and comfortable inside.
Insulation is an integral part of any building project, especially in homes with high heating costs. Unfortunately, the attic is where you may find outdated insulation or none at all. This leaves heat escaping through your home’s ceiling instead of being retained for use later on! Adding more insulation will keep this from trapping heat within your walls or ceilings.
Insulate the Crawlspace
Crawlspaces are hot, humid, and prone to mold and mildew. The crawlspace is the lowest point in your home, so it’s the first place to get wet during heavy rains. In addition to being neglected, these spaces are often poorly insulated. You can install rigid foam cellulose insulation over existing insulation or add new blown-in insulation to fix it.
If you have an unfinished basement or a crawlspace under your home’s first-floor joists, consider sealing any cracks or openings around pipes and ducts before installing new insulation. This will ensure that no unwanted pests enter your home through those entry points once you’ve sealed them off with spray foam insulation.
Caulk Around Windows and Doors
Caulking around windows and doors is one of the best ways to prevent air leaks in your home. If you are a DIYer, you can use silicone caulk; if not, hire someone to do it for you. The cost will vary significantly depending on how many windows or doors need caulking and whether or not they require replacing.
Check for Air Leaks
A critical step in insulating your home is to check for air leaks—openings that allow heated or cooled air to escape your house. Cracks usually cause air leaks, gaps, and holes in your home’s walls, ceilings, floors, and attic space. You can find them by looking for places where you feel cold drafts coming from around windows and doors.
If you’re unsure whether there are any air leaks in your house, consider hiring a professional energy auditor who will thoroughly inspect and provide recommendations on how best to seal these areas up so they no longer contribute to wasted energy consumption.
Conclusion
Insulating your home can get expensive, but it’s worth it in the long run. With these tips and a little bit of elbow grease, you can make your home more energy-efficient and save money on your utility bills while you do it!
