Where should you not put insulation?

Do not use fiberglass insulation in basements. Fiberglass traps mold well and basements are notorious for having moisture problems. Instead, use closed cell foam board and spray for basement installation. Never place insulation close to water heaters, oil burners or anything hot.

What should you not do with insulation?

Where should insulation be installed?

In addition to walls and attics, insulation should be installed in ceilings with unheated spaces, basement walls, floors above vented crawl spaces, cathedral ceilings, floors over unheated garages or porches, knee walls, and in between interior walls—especially bathrooms—as well as ceilings and floors.

Is it better to insulate ceiling or walls?

wall insulation, always go for the attic. The largest pay back will be seen here. You would stop heat loss from natural convection and block solar gain (an increase in heat) in the attic, which can result in energy savings of 30 to 50 percent. You won't see as big of a return on investment by insulating walls.

Which part of the house needs most insulation?

Arguably the most important space in the home to insulate is the attic. This is primarily because heat naturally rises, which means that the attic will hold a lot of the heat generated in the home. During the winter, having that heat escape through the attic will push up energy bills.

How to Dot

What is the most important part of a house to insulate?

Heat rises to the ceiling. Because a large volume of indoor heat is lost through the ceiling, the attic floor above is considered the most important area in the house to insulate for winter comfort and efficiency.

Is it better to insulate ceiling or roof?

If you are deciding between insulating the roof deck or the ceiling, Insulating your ceiling should be the priority. Not only is it easier but ceiling insulation is beneficial in a number of ways: Keeps the temperature in the building regulated. Saves on energy costs.

Should I insulate my attic floor or ceiling?

roof insulation is no-contest. The floor wins every time. Insulating the floor is standard practice for an unfinished attic space. The exception to this rule takes place when families opt to convert an unfinished attic space into something usable or livable.

Can insulation touch wires?

It is perfectly safe for household insulation to touch wires provided the wires or cables are electrically insulated. There also are techniques to make insulation fit better around wires. However, under no circumstances should thermal insulation make contact with live uninsulated wires and cables.

Can you install insulation wrong?

You could do it wrong

Rather than a tight seal to prevent air from leaving or entering your home, air will simply be able to travel through the gaps. Thus, you'll likely still experience the draftiness in your home that made you want to install insulation in the first place.

What parts of an attic should be insulated?

In an unfinished attic, the goal of insulation is to keep the rooms below cool in summer and warm in winter. That means insulating the attic floor only—not the walls—and having vents in the roof. With a finished attic, insulation must help keep the attic areas comfortable.

Can you have too much insulation in your attic?

It's possible to over-insulate an attic as too much will cause moisture buildup and eventually result in mold. Eventually, adding more insulation leads to diminishing returns in trapping heat as well.

Can insulation catch fire?

You may not think about how insulation will react should your home catch on fire. Can it burn? Yes, it actually can! Although most insulation materials are extremely fireproof, a myriad of issues can cause your insulation to burn.

Can I put insulation over plywood?

I agree that as long as the insulation under the plywood is tight to the bottom of the plywood that laying additional insulation on top should be fine. The plywood should add a little insulating value itself.

Can you put insulation around a dryer vent?

You can insulate your dryer vent with rolled insulation. Wrap the pipe with the rolled insulation, making sure that the entire pipe is covered. Then, secure the insulation with duct tape. After this is done, caulk around the exit of the pipe on the exterior of the home to prevent cool air from seeping in.

Should I insulate between the rafters in my attic?

The general advice we give is that you should always insulate between and above the rafters (warm roof) or between and under the rafters (cold roof).

Can you put insulation against roof?

Most building codes (including the International Residential Code) allow just one exception to these rules: in Climate Zones 2B and 3B, you can install fiberglass insulation against the underside of your roof sheathing without a ventilation channel or rigid foam above the sheathing — but only if you install tile ...

How many inches of insulation should be in an attic?

The higher the R-Value, the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches, depending on insulation type.

Is it worth insulating internal ceilings?

By insulating your ceiling, you avoid heat losses and an unnecessarily high energy bill. Warm air rises, but by means of ceiling insulation you can keep the warmth inside and reduce sounds. It is an efficient and quite cheap way to improve the energy performance of your house.

Should there be insulation between floors?

In unfinished attic spaces, insulate between and over the floor joists to seal off living spaces below. If the air distribution is in the attic space, then consider insulating the rafters to move the distribution into the conditioned space. 2.

Is it worth insulating under floorboards?

'The effectiveness of floor insulation should not be underestimated,' says Jenny Turner. 'Through floors, homes can lose around 15 per cent of heat, so by insulating your floorboards, you could save on energy bills. '

Which parts of a house can be insulated?

The key areas of your home that need insulation are the attic, roof and exterior walls. Additionally, up to 10% of heat can be lost through the floor of a home with no underfloor insulation. Attic or roof insulation can save you the most in energy bills and is a key area to insulate.

Is it good to insulate under house?

Crawl space insulation, as a part of overall home air sealing and insulation, helps maintain your entire home's energy efficiency. Without insulation, heat and cool air are easily lost through the floor. Insulation also helps to preserve the air quality and reduce energy costs.

Do you insulate interior walls?

Even if you have good exterior insulation, it's helpful to insulate interior walls of rooms you don't use year round, such as guest rooms, storage rooms, and three-season rooms. This helps keep your warm or cooled air where you are.