Crawl space insulation is a vital part of your home’s overall energy efficiency. You might not think about it much, but insulation in your crawl space can help keep your home cooler in the summer while preventing intrusions from pests. In today’s blog, Valley Insulation discusses a few factors that affect crawl space insulation in your home.
Dampness
Dampness and moisture are common occurrences in crawl spaces. One way to solve the moisture problem is to install a vapor barrier in the entire area. Otherwise, moisture may seep into the crawl space and cause damage over time, such as rotted wood. Damp insulation reduces its effectiveness. When a crew installs crawl space insulation, the company should mitigate any moisture problems with the correct moisture prevention barriers.
Pests
Unless a crawl space is sealed, you might face a pest problem. Insects and rodents don’t need a big opening to infiltrate your home. Crawl space insulation must have anti-pest measures in place, such as borate additives to prevent insects from nesting. Installers need to seal the insulation properly to try to keep bugs and rodents out as much as possible. Crews may also advise you on how to seal your crawl space to keep critters out.
Air Temperatures
Warm air rises, and cold air sinks. That’s always going to happen in your home, which means your floors are always going to feel cooler than walls or ceilings. Crawl space insulation does not prevent cool floors. It does keep temperatures from transferring from a crawl space to your floors, which keeps your floors warmer than they would be without insulation underneath them. Insulation in this part of your home forms a barrier between your interior and exterior. The overall effect is to regulate temperatures in your home, and that saves you money on your utility bills.
Climate
Your regional climate determines the recommended thickness of crawl space insulation. Houses in warmer climates need thinner insulation compared to homes in colder climates. The Insulation Institute recommends insulation with an R-value of R-25 to R-30 for crawl spaces in the Greater Cincinnati area. An insulation installer should advise you as to the R-value of insulation going into your home.
Crawl Space Insulation in Cincinnati
Valley Insulation has been working on homes in the Greater Cincinnati area for more than 40 years. Contact us today or give us a call at (513) 353-4100 for more information about crawl space insulation, wall insulation, and commercial insulation.
