What Are the Benefits of Crawl Space Insulation?

37% of homeowners have experienced financial problems as a result of damage due to water getting into their homes.

The crawl space is one of the areas that dangerous water can seep in without you even knowing. There are many benefits to insulating a crawl space, so homeowners should get the project done sooner rather than later.

Are you interested in insulating your crawl space, but you’re not sure how to get started?

To learn more about home crawl space insulation, keep reading below and find out what you need to know before you begin.

Crawl Space Insulation Benefits

You may never see your crawl space or maybe you only use it for storage. Some may not even know they have a crawl space until something is wrong with it!

However, taking care of this space is important, and even though it is often out of sight, it should still be on your mind as a homeowner.

Insulating a crawl space (even one that never gets used) will help you as a homeowner.

Although you’ll need to spend some money now to get the insulation completed, you’ll save money in potential repairs or replacements down the line.

Energy Efficiency

Over time, you will save money with an insulated crawl space.

You don’t have to pay as much to use your cooling and heating systems because you’ll use them less. The insulation holds in the cool or hot air that you’re pumping out, which means those appliances won’t have to be on as long as they normally would.

You will be able to enjoy the savings that your insulation gives you every month when you pay the bills, and eventually, they may even add up to the cost of the insulation itself.

Energy Star agrees that insulating your crawl space is one of the biggest chances to save energy in your house, so it is worth your time to do so.

Keep Out the Insects

By sealing up all of the exits and entrances that bugs may get into, you’re able to keep them out of the crawl space altogether.

If you leave your crawl space out in the open, insects are bound to find their way in through any open cracks. They can get into your ducts and other spaces and can ruin them entirely.

In addition to that, insects will also be able to crawl all over your home, which means the air quality will be lower, and the residue from them living inside will be all over.

By neglecting the crawl space, you’re likely doing more damage than you think. Insulation is an easy way to prevent this problem from happening.

Better Air Quality

Your physical health relies on you taking care of the air within your home.

You’ll have an easy time keeping out irritants, contaminants, and allergens from your home with proper crawl space insulation.

If you live in an area where these problems happen often, such as a high pollen region, good insulation is even more important.

The insulation helps to protect your ventilation system, and it prevents contaminants from getting into the home through that space. It’s a win-win scenario for any homeowner.

How to Insulate a Crawl Space

Now that we have discussed the crawl space insulation importance, we can talk about how to insulate a crawl space and actually get the job done.

When insulating a crawl space, the first thing to think about is getting rid of sources of water. You want everything outside, like gutters or downspouts, to face away from the home. If necessary, you can install a sump pump in the basement.

The next thing to think about is the material. Crawl space insulation cost will vary based on the materials you choose and the size of your crawl space. You should look for an insulation material that will resist water damage.

Seal all of the vent coverings and hatchways to the outside. You’ll also want to seal joints and sills with caulk or a foaming sealant.

You need to use weather stripping to make sure the seals are tight anywhere that you are sealing between inside the crawl space and outside the home.

Next, you will insulate the walls with the material you chose by using fasteners or adhesive.

The last thing to do is install a plastic vapor barrier by taping it down. Since these come in various thickness levels, you should choose the one that is most appropriate for how you plan to use (or not use) the crawl space.

It’s important to check on your crawl space regularly to make sure that there is no damage or moisture in the structure.

Insulation can last for years if it isn’t damaged, so making this investment as soon as you can is a good idea if you want to reap all of the benefits.

Do You Need Crawl Space Insulation?

If you’re interested in crawl space insulation, it’s an easy job to do yourself. Alternatively, you can also hire professionals near you to come and do the job for you.

Regardless, insulation will help your house have stronger integrity and it will also give you peace of mind. Insulating your crawl space is good for your family and the future of your home.

Do you want to learn more about DIY projects you can do in your home? If so, be sure to check out our DIY & Household section for additional tips and tricks.