Tips for insulating your home this winter season

Air leaks are often the biggest culprit of energy loss in attics. You can seal many attic air leaks – especially the big ones – on your own. Once you have accessed your attic space, look for dirty insulation (this means air is moving around the insulation) to spot leaks. Leaks are most likely to occur where the attic floor meets your walls, areas with dropped ceilings, and attic kneewalls. For bigger holes in these areas, you can use pieces of batt insulation rolled in garbage bags placed in insulation gaps. In cases of dropped soffit (structures creating a dropped ceiling), covering the opening with reflective foil or rigid foam boards and sealing with caulk or adhesive can help further reduce air leaks. 

If your home has a furnace flue without proper insulation, it can cause significant warm air leakage. While you can improve flue insulation on your own, be mindful of the following:

• Building codes: usually, building codes specify insulation can be no less than an inch away from the furnace flue to reduce fire risk.
• Instead of batting or other combustible insulation, use aluminum flashing and heat-resistant caulk to seal the surrounding area.

For smaller gaps, including those around PVC or cast iron plumbing fixtures, you can use expanding foam for ¼ inch to 3-inch gaps or caulk for those under ¼ inch. 

The most common mistake homeowners make when installing insulation in their attic, according to ENERGY STAR, is to block the flow of air at the eaves. To avoid blocking attic airflow, follow these guidelines for attic ventilation.

Finally, on your way out of the attic, check your insulation on the attic hatch or door. If there’s no insulation on the hatch, consider installing reflective insulation. And, if you’ve noticed a draft around the attic entry, weatherstripping the opening is a great option to reduce air leakage. Be sure to install hook and eye closures to the door or hatch – when attached, the weather stripping should be slightly compressed to get the best seal possible. The hatch or door itself can be insulated by nailing or gluing a piece of rigid foam board or fiberglass insulation to the back.

There are a number of ready-to-buy solutions for homeowners looking for a little extra insulation this winter. 

Weatherstripping windows and doors can be a great first step if your current weatherstripping is insufficient or damaged. Weatherstripping is one set of tools in your arsenal – from door sweeps to strips, there are many different ways to seal a door or window. Use this guide to determine the best weatherstripping option for you.

Window films can also improve insulation on windows year round by blocking UV rays and creating an extra barrier between your home and the elements outside.

For a detailed how-to on how to install weatherstripping around windows and doors, click here.

If your home has a basement, this is another key area to consider when making insulation upgrades. The chimney effect – when hot air from your home’s furnace rises through leaks to the attic and air from outside pours into leaks in the basement to replace it – is something insulation can help you avoid. Air sealing rim joists – especially around bay windows – is an excellent way to prevent heat loss and can be done with caulk or spray foam.