Although insulation is a staple for most American homes, you’d be surprised to learn that about 90% of all American homes are under-insulated. That’s right, only 10% of homes in the country have enough insulation for both the cold and warm seasons.
If installing new insulation is on your to-do list, you can go one of two ways. You can do it yourself or hire an insulation installation service. If you opt for the former, it’s vital to understand the different mistakes with installing insulation so you can get it right the first time.
To help you out, we’ll be discussing a few mistakes DIYers make when installing insulation.
1. Using the Wrong Insulation
Most people make their first mistake before the actual installation by buying the wrong insulation. Not all types of insulation should be installed anywhere. Avoid installing flammable installations close to furnaces and other places where the fire burns because they might catch fire and burn the house.
2. Making the Insulation Face the Wrong Way
It sounds absurd, but you’d be surprised at how many people install their systems facing the wrong side. This may not decrease the effectiveness of the insulation, but it may lead to a host of other problems. Doing so may lead to the growth and proliferation of mold, and here’s why.
The paper material prevents water from seeping into your home during the wet season. That’s why you should always install your insulation with the paper side facing the wall. If you do it the other way round, moisture from the air will condense inside the insulation and lead to mold growth.
3. Leaving Gaps Everywhere
Don’t give yourself a pat on the back after you’re done installing insulation just yet. If you’ve left a lot of gaps between the insulation, you don’t deserve it. That’s because these gaps allow moisture to leak inside the insulation.
The moisture leads to mold growth and also compromises the insulation’s structural integrity. Try using foam and caulk insulation to seal these gaps. If the insulation isn’t secure on the wall, you can use a staple gun to fix it in place.
Insulation for crawl spaces can be a tad difficult to install. In such cases, you’re better off leaving it to the pros. For professional crawl space insulation installation, you can click this link: https://www.insulatekansascity.com/crawl-space-insulation/.
4. Failing to Air Seal
It’s really important to seal off the sections around windows and exterior doors to prevent air from coming in. Caulk works great for sealing these areas to prevent unwanted airflow. Also, check your unfinished attic for any entryways for air, and do the same.
Overlooking air sealing could undo all the hard work you did to install the insulation. There’s no point in having insulation if cold air still comes in from your windows.
Avoid These Mistakes With Installing Insulation
The information above should help you sidestep these mistakes with installing insulation for effective home insulation. Remember, if you don’t have the chops to install insulation on your own, you can get help from the pros.
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