Effective insulation can significantly drive down your energy bills. This is especially true during the winter when heating systems have to work overtime to warm up a room. If you insulate your basement you can start enjoying the benefits of a warm home and lower energy bills.
Basement Insulation: How It Drives Down Your Energy Expenditures
You may overlook your basement as a place to add insulation. This is normally not an area you’ll focus on when investing in home improvement projects. But the basement shouldn’t just be an afterthought. It can help you achieve large amounts of energy savings, perhaps even more than other spaces in your home can.
What are the Benefits of Insulation?
Ideally, an insulation system provides both immediate and long-term benefits. General benefits include reducing energy costs, preventing moisture condensation, and providing fire protection.
A house without proper insulation is prone to the leakage of air. Gaps surrounding windows and doors result in high amounts of energy expenditure as air leaks out of a room or a house. Heating systems end up working much harder to maintain a consistent level of temperature. More energy is used the more these systems have to run.
What Part Should You Insulate?
Before you decide on the area of your basement you want to insulate, consider your intentions for the space. If you’re using it as a living space, it may be best to insulate the walls. On the other hand, if insulation is only meant is to reduce heat loss and energy costs, insulate the basement ceilings instead.
Also, keep in mind that insulation reduces the amount of usable interior space. Depending on the type of insulation you choose, insulation placement can take up a few inches of space.
Basement Walls
Providing insulation to the walls of your basement is often more effective at keeping warmth in. You can save hundreds of dollars in energy use this way. In addition, you can turn the space into a more comfortable and habitable living area you can use on a daily basis.
Basement Ceilings
Is it a good idea to insulate your basement ceiling? There are some concerns about insulating this area because it opens the possibility of lowering temperature even more and causing problems like frozen pipes. However, they are cheaper than wall insulation and can eliminate air leak issues.
What are Some Types of Insulation?
- Blanket (Batt and Roll) – Blanket insulation is an inexpensive method of insulation. It involves inserting materials like fiberglass, mineral, and fibers into studs and beams in walls and ceilings.
- Sprayed Foam Insulation – This type of insulation carries a high R-value. This refers to the ability of the material to resist the flow of heat. Sprayed foam insulation has a liquid application. It eventually expands and fills empty gaps throughout the walls or ceilings.
Don’t leave insulation to the last minute. Temperatures will drop as winter approaches, and your energy expenditure may skyrocket as a result. The earlier you insulate your basement or other rooms in your house, the fewer problems you will have later on.
A+ Insulation Kansas City provides solutions if you decide to insulate your basement for the winter. Insulation services can go a long way in reducing your energy expenditures and ensuring you stay warm and comfortable in your home no matter the time of year.
Contact us at 913-281-2250 or 816-265-1947 for a free inspection and estimate.