After attic insulation, wall insulation is the next most popular and effective place to put insulation when it comes to increasing the energy efficiency of your home. While there are many types of insulation available for walls, existing homes with finished walls require certain types of insulation that do not involve removing the interior drywall or the exterior siding. One possible option that does not require removing the walls involves creating small holes in the walls, blowing in loose fill or spray foam insulation, and then patching and painting afterward.
Insulation in your home provides resistance to heat flow. The more heat flow resistance your insulation provides, the lower your heating and cooling costs. Properly insulating your home not only reduces heating and cooling costs, but also improves comfort.
When considering insulation, the attic is generally the first place to start, as most of your heat will rise and go through your ceiling to the attic if there is inadequate or ineffective insulation. It is also often one of the easier places to access.
Insulating the floor over a crawl space requires taking into consideration moisture control (both over the ground and as to the insulation) and whether you have a vented or unvented crawl space. (Unvented crawl spaces may require insulation of the perimeter instead.)
Moisture control requirements will depend on your property and climate and should be evaluated by a contractor. Floor insulation also requires air sealing of the floor before installing insulation.
