It’s quite common in older Cincinnati homes for the furnace to run full blast all winter long. If your heating bills are higher than you would like, lack of insulation in the crawl space could be to blame.
Take a careful look at the condition of your crawl space. Damp or drooping insulation doesn’t do you any good. And if your home was built before 1990—the year energy-conscious building codes were standardized—there might be no insulation at all.
If you think insulating the crawl space could improve home comfort and decrease your energy bills, you’re right—but some types of crawl space insulation are better than others. The proper place to insulate also depends on whether your crawl space is ventilated or not. The following guide will help you insulate your crawl space effectively.
Closed-Cell Spray Foam for Crawl Space Insulation
You can install spray foam insulation in many places throughout your home, but it’s especially useful in the crawl space. Closed-cell spray foam, in particular, makes an efficient air and vapor barrier, meaning it seals leaks as well as insulates. Whether you have a ventilated or unventilated crawl space, spray foam insulation is highly effective when installed in the proper places.
Where to Insulate the Crawl Space?
If your crawl space is ventilated, it becomes cold in the winter and difficult to dehumidify in the summer. In this case, it’s best to insulate the subfloor and between floor joists to separate your house from the crawl space below.
However, if you have plumbing and HVAC ducts running through the crawl space, it’s much better to keep it unventilated. In this case, you should insulate the crawl space wall and rim joist. To completely close off the crawl space from the elements, you should also remove foundation vents, seal air leaks and add a vapor barrier over the bare earth, gravel or concrete floor. You may also want to run a dehumidifier and install a sump pump to keep moisture levels under control.
Install Spray Foam Insulation for Your Crawl Space in Cincinnati, OH
The professionals at Mooney & Moses Insulation have experience installing crawl space insulation in new construction and retrofit projects. We’ll assess your situation and recommend either ventilating or sealing your crawl space for the best possible results.
To schedule crawl space insulation services in the Cincinnati area, please call us at 513-341-8918 or fill out our online contact form today!
