![]() The batts can be cut and worked around the penetrations under the house to allow easier installation. I prefer rock wool or fiberglass batts between the floor joists because there are usually so many wires and pipes that using something like rigid foam is almost impossible. Yes, it’s dirty and difficult to maneuver under your house, but a couple weekends of suffering will bring years of energy savings. Tip #3 Crawlspaces are Cold Spacesįor hot climates, this isn’t much of an issue, but the crawlspace in a cold climate can be ridiculously cold, so insulating under your floors is super important here. That means 14-18 inches of insulation if you are using traditional materials like fiberglass or blown-in cellulose which has an average R value of R3-3.5 per inch.Ĭheck out this post on How to Install Blow-In Insulation which is an extremely DIY friendly insulation technique. That’s a ton of insulation, but you need it in these cold climates. ![]() In the northern parts of the country (zones 5-8) EnergyStar recommends insulating your attic to somewhere between R49-60. Heat rises and without sufficient insulation under your roof, you will be loosing all that precious (and expensive) heat out of the top of the house. You want the underside of your roof insulated well enough that you don’t get melting snow which leads to ice dams and other not so fun problems. When it comes to insulation for a cold climate a cold roof is a wonderful thing. On most old houses there have been enough coats of paint that this isn’t an issue but if you notice the joint between the baseboard and the plaster is not sealed, go ahead and caulk and paint it. The junction between your wall and floor is notoriously bad about creating drafts. Consider adding something like these gasket covers to your outlets and light switches because they are essentially big holes cut into your walls. On the outside of the house caulk any of these penetrations. Electrical and Plumbing PenetrationsĪnywhere a pipe or wire goes in or out of your house and then makes another penetration through the wall that is a big place drafts come from. A lot of folks leave it open all night after a fire and that cold air pours right in. Is there a flue and does it close tightly enough to keep your warm air from flying out the roof? Make sure it’s opened for fires and closed as soon as the embers have died out. ![]() The next spot to think about when it comes to sealing drafts is your chimney. Check out these easy ways to tighten up your windows and doors and stop the cold drafts. These are easy solutions with the plethora of permanent and temporary weatherstripping options available. Old houses breathe and to an extent that is a good thing, but too much of anything is no good and most old houses could very easily have their envelope tightened up without problems developing. Yes, air sealing is not insulation but it is, in my opinion, MUCH more important. Hot or cold climate, air sealing is the elephant in the room that is often overlooked. ![]() I know you northerners will be keen to discuss the topic right now as you freeze your baguettes off so I’m gonna drop some knowledge bombs on you to help keep you warm this winter. I’ve written about Insulation For a Hot Climate previously, so I thought that January was the perfect time to write about Insulation for a Cold Climate. They may both be beach houses, but that is where the similarities end. You can’t necessarily use the same materials and techniques to keep a house in Miami cool in the summer as you would to keep a Cape Cod cottage toasty all winter. Insulating an old house is very dependent on the climate. For years I lived in New York and Boston and suffered through my fair share of winters before heading south. While I may live and work in Florida, I’m not unaccustomed to living in the great white north.
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