There are many reasons why homeowners should think of investing or finding alternatives for the proper insulation of their houses. Insulation makes the home more energy-efficient, allowing you to save more on electricity and utility bills. However, some old houses don’t come with effective insulations compared to modern residences nowadays. Fret not as there are other ways to incorporate different insulation systems without damaging your walls and aesthetics.
Depending on the type of residence you own, there are many alternatives to insert and add some insulation systems without taking down and demolishing your drywall. Insulating your exterior walls with the help of adequate materials and tools is enough to do the trick.
Although you have to ensure that you make use of quality materials to ensure the strength and longevity of your wall. You can check out suppliers and manufacturers such as Building Insulation Solutions Shop to learn about your options.
To get you started, here are some effective ways to install additional home insulation systems while retaining your home’s aesthetics:
- Insulate The Attic
Adding insulation under the roof is the easiest way to avoid affecting the drywall of your beautiful house. According to knaufinsulation.com.au, several options exist for adding insulation such as loose-fill, rock mineral wool, glass wool, and many other materials. You can contact professional experts so they can give you advice. You can either buy the supplies for them or avail of their insulation service as a packaged deal.
By insulating your attic, heat and moisture won’t be able to damage your home. It keeps water vapor from penetrating your walls and eroding them. In addition, it reduces heat buildup in your attic, which could lead to the shingles on your roof swelling and cracking, or to the plywood on your deck being softer.
In addition, if you reside in cold places, insulating your attic can be a good way to help manage your heating expenses since warming it up can take a spike in your electric bill during the winter season. Therefore, always think of the attic when trying to find the first place to add more insulation.
- Insulate The HVAC Ducts
There are apparent benefits of installing HVAC systems. However, heating and cooling ducts can lose substantial energy, so ensure their efficiency through proper insulation. The first step is to inspect your heating, ventilation, and air conditioner ducts thoroughly. Replace the unsealed and faulty ones. Insulate the more extended duct areas to maintain a consistent temperature. You’ll be surprised at how much this method can benefit you in terms of effectiveness and cost-efficiency.
Insulating ductwork ensures that air passing through it will remain at the desired temperature and won’t escape. This means that it can help reduce strain on your system when in use. And so, you can ensure that your HVAC doesn’t have to work excessively when the ducts are properly insulated. This is important as you wouldn’t want to have an emergency system breakdown happen during the warmest or coldest season of the year.
- Insulate The Pipes
When water pipes have the proper insulation, they can retain hot temperatures and allow your heater system to work without exerting more effort and energy. With these insulation tricks, your tap water can be heated speedily, allowing you to lose waiting time and decreasing water waste too. Insulating water pipes is easy and inexpensive to do. All you need to find are the insulation materials that can be slid into the pipes. Secure them well and check on their condition from time to time.
With your pipes adequately insulated, you can enhance your thermal efficiency and save money on heating costs. Standing water can freeze in cold weather when pipes aren’t properly insulated, which causes water to condense. Hence, take charge of your pipes and insulate them now.
Postponing this could result in your home’s pipes getting damaged, which often leads to water leaks, or worse, blown-up pipes that could flood your home and ruin your property.
- Use Spray Foam Insulation
Leaks and gaps within existing walls can be sealed with spray foam insulation. A cheap, quick, and easy way to get rid of air pockets in your house is to spray liquid polyurethane into those gaps. You can do this task by yourself or find a professional to do the sealing. Once the foam is applied, it hardens into a solid surface, which can be camouflaged into your walls by repainting them with the same shade. This is an excellent insulation method that doesn’t diminish your home’s look.
If you need a denser foam, you can use two pounds of closed-cell foam instead of half a pound of open-cell foam. However, you need to do proper research and seek professional advice on how much spray foam is suitable for your home.
And aside from offering you a way to insulate your home, you can also use spray foam to manage insect and pest manifestations. Consult your insulation contractor to ensure they use one that can deter insects and rodents.
- Creatively Design Recycled Materials
Using old blue jeans and other recycled cloth or fabrics as insulation may be a good idea. But to ensure they won’t ruin your interiors, you need to be more creative and artistic in making them work as effective insulation systems. Also, you need to ensure that these textiles are fireproof and don’t attract termites and other house pests. Like the other insulation materials, denim also works the same way.
You may even choose to combine this material with the rest. Loose-fill insulation is also available in denim. Compared to other insulators with the same R-value, denim insulation is relatively cheap, which means it’s a cost-effective home insulation alternative.
Conclusion
There are ways to keep your home cool without air conditioning as well as means to keep it warm without using the heater. But to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature year-round, you need effective insulation to all viable parts of your home. As a homeowner, it’s essential that you prioritize such tasks not only to effectively manage your utility bills but also to avoid possible urgent repair works. Understandably, you don’t want to ruin aesthetics, so hopefully, the suggestions above can keep your home energy-efficient without creating eyesores for your interior design. By applying the tips mentioned, you can expect to see some changes in your utility bills.