Have you noticed that the winters have been becoming colder lately? Are you living in an older home with an attic? If this is the case, you should consider adding sufficient insulation to your home.
The energy efficiency of a home can significantly reduce costs. Water heating, for example, consumes almost 90% of the energy required to run a washer. Without the use of hot water, modern washing machines can clean your garments. Your home’s insulation heat loss may result in a greater expense than if you reduce it.
So, how can you keep your house warm during the cold months without breaking the bank? The key is to invest in attic insulation. We’ll show you how to insulate an antique house in the sections below.
1. What is the significance of the attic?
We all know that as cool air lowers to a low level, hot air rises. Let’s put this information to work in your home. In the winter, the warm air you need will seep up to the attic if you don’t have sufficient insulation. Warm air will find its way up no matter how narrow the openings leading to your attic are. Aside from that, the pressure in the warm air area would rise. On a cold day, that pressure, combined with the lower pressure outside, pulls warm air through whatever opening it can find.
Aside from that, the house’s high air pressure will result in low pressure at the bottom. Because of the varying air pressures, cold air is drawn in, making your home cold. The stack effect is a term used by energy specialists to describe this situation. Read these pre-insulation steps before you begin insulating your attic.
2. Fill in the Blanks
Your insulated attic may or may not be a sealed attic. Before you begin installing insulation, be sure that all of the openings in your attic are sealed. Insulation slows heat loss but does not prevent airflow. Check for and seal any gaps or holes that allow air to pass through. Planks or drywall pieces can be used to fill up any gaps.
For larger gaps, latex caulk or urethane foam might be used. Gaps in light fixtures, pipes, wiring, and heating/cooling ducts should all be checked. To fill gaps around chimneys and stove flues, use a sheet-metal collar and caulk. For an attic door seal, wrap weather stripping around the sides of the door.
Warm air might also escape through the vents in your attic. In the summer, attic vents keep the house cool and comfortable. If you can, cover your attic vents during the cold months. If your attic is already insulated, you’ll need to put in a little extra effort. Roll back the batts to fill in any holes beneath them.
Remember to bring your protective gear, including long pants, gloves, eye protection, and a dust mask. What if there’s loose-fill insulation in the attic that you can’t remove? To identify all the cracks and holes, you should hire a weatherization contractor. Allowing warm air to escape through a gap is not a good idea.
3. Insulate your attic.
Insulation is the key to making an ancient property habitable. Even if the house came with insulation already installed, it’s a good idea to double-check. The insulating materials used in older homes are not as effective as those used in newer homes at keeping heat in. The insulation has to meet DOE requirements. The DOE’s standard for most of the United States is R-38. Check first to see if your area has a different standard.
When it comes to insulating batting, you have a lot of options. Fiberglass insulation is the standard choice. Be cautious and wear safety equipment if you choose this solution and work on it alone. You may insulate your attic with R-30 insulation batting. You can also utilize blown-in insulation, which is made from environmentally benign materials.
R-30 insulating batting has a thickness of 15 inches. Cellulose blown-in insulation is available for a more environmentally friendly insulation solution. Cellulose is made up of recycled newsprint. It has a higher R-value than fiberglass and is fire-resistant. Making a pillow out of insulation batting is the easiest technique to insulate attic doors.
Before you tape it to the attic door, make sure you measure it carefully. To keep it airtight, add foam to the edges. Did you know that space heating consumes 42% of all energy used in homes? Compare this to the 6% of energy that air conditioning consumes. In order to maintain the house habitable at a comfortable temperature, homeowners expend more energy and money in the winter.
4. Other Options for Insulating an Old House
The attic, for the most part, is a significant source of heat loss. That isn’t to say we shouldn’t pay attention to other common heat leaks. There are a few more things you can do to keep the heat in. The second most serious issue, after the attic, is the windows. Make certain that you have storm windows installed.
Next, make sure your outside walls are properly insulated. Look around your house for any other cracks. Pips, cables, and drains that lead outside the house should be followed. If you come across any, seal them to keep the heat in. Make sure your insulation materials are far enough away from the heat of the lights when you insulate light fixtures.
It’s possible that wooden blocks will be required to surround the lights. Fires can start when insulation materials are too close to the heat created by the lights.
Make Your Home More Energy-Savvy
It’s advisable to clear out your attic before sealing or insulate it. It’ll be easier to remove the plywood from the attic floor this way.Examine the plywood’s condition before removing it to see if it’s suitable for insulation Check for wetness in your current insulation. It’s time to replace them if there are molds or stains on them. All of these energy-saving tips on how to insulate an ancient house are excellent investment
Don’t put off insulating your home! Please contact us as soon as possible so that we can assist you in getting started. If you’re still unsure, don’t worry about the cost because we also provide free estimates!