What is the importance of crawl space insulation?

If you are looking for ways to save energy in your home or thinking of remodelling it, insulating your crawlspace and basement should be first on the list. While it is essential to insulate your basement to keep your living space comfortable, it is also required under government regulations to fulfill minimum crawlspace insulation requirements.

If your crawlspace is not properly insulated, it could work as a major source of energy loss in your home. The choice of the ideal insulation will depend on one main factor – whether the crawlspace is conditioned or unconditioned. Conditioned basements could be heated/cooled by furnace/air conditioner.

If you have an unconditioned crawlspace (usually it is vented), the floor will typically be insulated. But if your crawlspace is heated with uninsulated pipes/ducts, you should get the walls insulated. It will also be required to add PE vapour retarder over the floor.

Conditioned crawlspaces

Do you have heated crawlspace? The basement may not have insulated pipes/ducts. In such a case, you must have the walls insulated for a warm and comfortable environment. Fiberglas insulation can help in keeping the energy within the living space and prevent it from escaping through the pipes/ducts.

Unconditioned crawlspace

If you have a crawlspace without any heating, cold air will enter your living space. This will force the heating system to work harder to keep heating the incoming cold air. Fibreglass batts make ideal insulation materials for unconditioned basements. The batts should be installed between joists.

Why you should insulate the crawlspace?

There are many reasons why you should insulate the crawlspace in your home:

• Your crawlspace insulation works in combination with other insulation system in your home to prevent outside air from entering. Without proper insulation in the basement, you will keep losing the heated air. Your heating system will no longer have to work more to maintain the indoor temperature.
• Proper basement home insulation also means preventing allergens/irritants from entering the ventilation systems. This will also help create a cleaner environment in your home.
• Insulating your basement doesn’t have to be a costly project. In fact, you will be able to recoup the investment in a short time. You will be able to recover the money in the form of savings over the working of your heating system.

Insulate your basement wall

Energy savings form as the obvious benefit of insulating your basement’s wall. But the savings will still depend on a number of factors. This include:

• The kind of heating system you have
• Your local climate
• The cost of fuel
• Your lifestyle

Importance of airflow

While insulating the basement is crucial, you should be careful about airflow. This is an important factor even when you are insulating the attic.

Inward drying is a crucial factor. The basement should be able to spread out moisture in a way to speed up its drying. You want to insulate properly but you don’t want to restrict the airflow, as it could lead to the trapping of moisture.

Ask the insulation service provider to ensure that a vapour barrier is created that prevents moisture from entering the basement. But there should be proper ventilation to prevent the moisture from causing any damage to the wall and insulation material.

Author bio:

The Author is an experienced home insulation expert with years of experience in the Calgary residential market. He and his team specialize in attic cat insulation and basement insulation.  The professional recommends checking your home insulation every year. When he is not providing home insulation services to clients, he likes to share his knowledge with his followers through his writing skills.

For more information read a post by Greener Ideal on Home Insulation Tips.