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How to Insulate an Old House

St Louis - St Charles Insulation Company.

Old Home Can Be Energy Efficient

About a quarter of your home’s heat is lost through the roof. Think about the money you’re wasting. If you live in a very old home, you know who hard it is to keep warm air in during winter and cold air in during summer. But rather than insulating the whole home and introducing potential issues such as too much humidity, you may be able to seal the attic in order to best retain heat and save energy.

This involves sealing gaps or cracks in the walls and ceilings that could be allowing air to get into the attic and rafters, usually with the use of sealant such as caulk, weather stripping, and fireproof foam sealant. Let your trusted insulation contractor in O’Fallon MO handle this.

Common areas that can introduce leaks include ceiling fans, gaps around chimneys, light fixtures, ductwork, wiring, exhaust fans and pipes. Begin your inspection by checking around windows or vents, and by looking around the perimeter of your home for small gaps or holes.

Once you have addressed all air leaks, only then should you add insulation.

Tips For the Attic

Check insulation for dampness, mold and mildew. Once mold has taken hold, it can be impossible to get it out of your existing insulation. Complete removal and replacement will be necessary. Same goes for signs of pest infestation, such as urine, feces, nests, etc.
Ensure you have enough ventilation in your attic, and that it’s not blocked in any way. These include soffit vents that draw air in and ridge vents to push the air outside.
If you have a vapor barrier, it should be facing the warm side (facing the floor if you live in a cold climate and facing the roof if you live in a warm climate).
If putting new insulation over existing insulation, make sure the vapor barriers are located between the layers of insulation. Remove barriers if you have to.
Think about installing metal roofing next time your roof needs replacement, as this material is lightweight, durable, long-lasting and energy-efficient.

Seal Basements and Crawl Spaces

Another big way to boost your old home’s indoor air quality, ventilation and energy efficiency is to seal your basements and crawl spaces. Seal up any cracks you see around windows and air vents, as well as gaps around ductwork, pipes and electrical wiring. If you have egress windows on your home, add well covers. Install vapor barriers in your crawlspaces and apply a waterproof sealing compound to all walls and flooring. Go the extra mile and add some batt insulation to floor joists.

Insulating Walls

Too many people mistakenly drill holes in walls, blow in cellulose insulation and then seal everything back up – too tightly. This encourages the formation of condensation on your walls, which you do not want. All that moisture can lead to mold, wood rot, and perpetually foggy windows.

The best way to insulate walls is from the exterior:

1. Apply a house wrap to the exterior walls.
2. Attach one-inch foam board insulation.
3. Put siding over the insulation.
4. Replace old windows with energy efficient models.
5. Use weather stripping and caulk window trim.

Call Addict Insulation in St. Charles MO

Let the professional insulation contractors in St. Louis MO handle your old house insulation project. It’s easy to schedule your no-cost consultation at 636-233-7314. Just contact us to learn more about how to insulate your old home.

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