With cooler weather now seeming like a distant memory, you might not be thinking about your home's insulation, but the warm months are the ideal time for some simple DIY insulation projects with huge paybacks. Proper insulation - from roof to foundation - helps keep your home cool in the summer (and warm in winter).
In fact, 90 percent of U.S. homes are under-insulated, according to analysis by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA). Adding insulation to your home is an easy way to save yourself hundreds of dollars per year in both heating and cooling costs, while helping to make your home more comfortable year around.
A trip to your local home improvement store to choose insulation can be overwhelming, though, given the dozens of options. Many people will gravitate toward fiberglass insulation, as it is likely what they have in their homes and is familiar.
Fiberglass insulation
Advantages of fiberglass batts and rolls include they are relatively inexpensive and fit the stud and joist spacing in most homes. While fiberglass insulation installs quickly, it can be challenging for the average homeowner to get it done right. There tends to be a lack of coverage in many cases. Keller homeowners should consider that fiberglass batt insulation does not continuously cover spaces, but fits between studs. The insulation may also slump and lose its insulating value over time, creating more energy-wasting gaps.
Rigid foam insulation
Another DIY insulation option available at home improvement stores is rigid foam insulation. Of the several rigid foams available, expanded polystyrene (EPS) can be used throughout the home, including walls, floors, ceilings and foundation walls. They are considered extremely user friendly and provide lasting coverage for homes.
Location, location, location
When planning where to add insulation, one area that Keller homeowners should pay attention to is "knee walls," which are short walls with attic space directly behind them. Such walls commonly lack insulation, but are a prime source for heat loss. "Although it can be difficult to access attic spaces behind knee walls, readily available "fanfold" EPS insulation fits through many attic access doors and hatches, and easily unfolds to cover up to 100 square feet.
Garage doors also many times are un-insulated. To fix this common area of heat gain and heat loss, some EPS manufacturers offer garage door insulation kits designed to fit easily into the door's segments, allowing the job to be completed in less than one hour.
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