It's believed that 90% of homes in the United States are under-insulated. Knowing how to tell if your home is under insulated and knowing what to do about it can help you take care of your property and stay more comfortable throughout the year.

How Can You Tell if Your Home Needs More Insulation?

There are many ways that you can tell whether or not your home is properly insulated. First, walk around your home without shoes or socks on. Touch the floors and walls. They should be relatively warm and dry. Keep in mind that some flooring materials will feel warmer than others, so don't fret if your carpeting feels warmer than your stone tiles.

Next, walk through each room and notice the temperature. Warm spots and cold spots are an indication of uneven insulation. Stand by doors and windows and feel for drafts. If some rooms are inexplicably warm or hot whatever you try, check whether they're properly ventilated; if they are, insulation may be the issue.

If you have a pest problem, the same holes and crevices they're getting in through are also places where air conditioning escapes. Kill two birds with one stone by plugging these openings. Water leaks in spaces like the attic are another sign of cracks in your home's insulation barrier. Check for this as part of your routine home maintenance; pests can also degrade insulation if they nest in it, creating holes in coverage.

Finally, go over your utility bills. Are they exceptionally high? High utility bills are a sign that your home's HVAC system is forced to run too much to keep your house a comfortable temperature. Other signs that your home needs more insulation include:

• Frozen pipes in winter.
• Ice dams on the roof.
• Ice on interior windows in winter—this is also a sign of high interior humidity.

If your home exhibits any of these signs, more insulation is likely needed.

Can You Install DIY Insulation?

Like some other home improvement projects, insulation can be installed as a DIY project or by professionals. Homeowners who install their own insulation can benefit from these tips:

• Avoid compressing insulation. Insulation relies on air gaps, much like the feathers in a down jacket; compressing removes this benefit.
• Seal air leaks outside the home before insulating inside the home.
• Pay attention to gaps in insulation, as even small gaps can make a big difference.
• Wear appropriate safety equipment, especially if using fiberglass, rock wool, or slag wool. Clothing should cover as much skin as possible, including your head, as skin irritation can occur.
• Take steps to minimize insulation dust, such as avoiding excess handling and not using compressed air for cleanup. Eye protection is a good idea, and respiratory masks are essential.

Before getting started, talk to an expert to learn how to insulate your home.

Types of Insulation

Insulation comes in many forms, and each type of insulation has its unique benefits and best use cases. When choosing insulation, consider factors such as the area to be insulated, climate, budget, and whether you prefer a DIY project or professional installation.

Batt and Roll Insulation (Blanket Insulation): typically made of fiberglass, mineral wool, plastic fibers, or natural fibers. It comes in pre-cut panels (batts) or rolls.

• R-value: Typically ranges from R-2.9 to R-3.8 per inch
• Applications: Best for unfinished walls, floors, and ceilings; can be used in attics
• Installation: Easy to install, can be a DIY project
• Benefits: Cost-effective, widely available, provides good thermal insulation

Blown-In Insulation (Loose-Fill): loose particles of cellulose, fiberglass, or mineral wool blown into place using special equipment.

• R-value: Varies based on material, typically R-2.2 to R-3.8 per inch
• Applications: Ideal for retrofitting existing homes, hard-to-reach areas, and irregularly shaped spaces
• Installation: Usually requires professional installation
• Benefits: Good for filling gaps and covering irregular spaces, excellent for adding insulation to existing structures

Rigid Foam Insulation (Foam Board): rigid panels or boards made of polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, or polyurethane.

• R-value: High R-value, typically R-3.8 to R-6.5 per inch
• Applications: Suitable for walls, roofs, foundations, and basements
• Installation: Can be a DIY project but may require professional help for large areas
• Benefits: Provides good thermal resistance, can add structural strength, moisture-resistant

Spray Foam Insulation: polyurethane or polyisocyanurate is applied as a liquid, which then expands and hardens into a foam as it sets.

• R-value: High R-value, typically R-3.5 to R-6.5 per inch
• Applications: Suitable for walls, roofs, attics, basements, and crawl spaces
• Installation: Requires professional installation due to specialized equipment
• Benefits: Provides an airtight seal, excellent for reducing air leaks, high thermal resistance, can add structural strength

Structure Insulated Panels (SIPs): prefabricated panels of foam board or liquid foam core sandwiched between structural boards.

• R-value: High R-value, typically R-4 to R-6.5 per inch
• Applications: Used for walls, roofs, and floors in new construction
• Installation: Requires professional installation
• Benefits: High energy efficiency, quick to install, strong and durable

Reflective or Radiant Barrier Insulation: reflective foil or metalized polyester films are applied as sheets or rolls.

• R-value: Doesn't have an R-value like other insulations, instead reflects heat
• Applications: Best for hot climates, attics, and roofs to reduce cooling costs
• Installation: Can be a DIY project or professionally installed
• Benefits: Reflects radiant heat, reduces cooling costs, lightweight and easy to install

Eco-Friendly Insulation Options

Many insulation options use energy-intensive production methods, such as fiberglass, or toxic chemicals, such as polystyrene and polyisocyanurate boards. Many homeowners are looking for greener alternatives that are environmentally friendly, and the market has provided.

Cotton/Denim Insulation: batts or rolls of recycled denim or cotton fibers.

• R-value: Typically R-3.5 to R-4 per inch
• Applications: Walls, floors, ceilings
• Installation: Can be a DIY project
• Benefits: Environmentally friendly, non-toxic, good sound absorption

Wool Insulation: batts, rolls, or loose-fill created with sheep wool.

• R-value: Typically R-3.5 to R-4 per inch
• Applications: Walls, floors, ceilings, attics
• Installation: Can be a DIY project or professionally installed
• Benefits: Natural and sustainable, excellent moisture regulation, good sound absorption

Cellulose Insulation: loose-fill insulation made of recycled paper products that are treated for fire resistance.

• R-value: Typically R-3.2 to R-3.8 per inch
• Applications: Walls, attics, hard-to-reach areas
• Installation: Usually requires professional installation
• Benefits: Eco-friendly, good thermal performance, fills gaps well

Understanding the Energy Ratings of Different Insulation Types

Beyond determining if your home needs new insulation, you must also select insulation with the best energy rating for each area of your home. These ratings reflect the thermal resistance of the insulation in question, revealing its ability to properly block heat flow in your climate. Each rating comes in the form of an R-value. As the R-value increases, so does the effectiveness of the insulation in blocking heat transfer. Each type of insulation has a different R-value and there are many different levels within each category.

For most types of insulation, the R-value increases with the density of the material. Loose fill insulation is the exception, however, due to the way the material compacts down within the wall cavity. Insulation contractors utilize precise formulas and calculations to determine the best amount of loose fill insulation to use for the preferred energy rating. Otherwise, you can safely select denser insulation products with a high R-value to keep heat transfer to a minimum in your home.

Each area in your home requires different R-values to properly shield the interior from outside temperatures. In the attic, for example, you may need insulation with an R-value of 49, while your walls can benefit from R-28 at the highest. Your contractor will look at the depth of the space requiring insulation, among other factors, to help you find your ideal insulation energy rating for each area in your home.

Where Are The Best Places to Install Insulation?

The best location to install insulation depends on the property. Many homeowners start with the attic space, because the attic is relatively easy to insulate and is a place where heat is commonly lost. The insulation in the attic between the joists should measure at either 11 inches (if the insulation is made of fiberglass or rock wool) or 8 inches (if the insulation is made of cellulose).

In addition to attic insulation, there are several other types of insulation that are relatively easy for Spring Hill homeowners to add, including:

• Duct insulation. Duct insulation can help prevent climate-controlled air from leaking out of the home.
• Basement insulation. Basement walls are often unfinished, so adding insulation is easy for many homeowners.
• Crawl space insulation. This is best added to unventilated crawl spaces, and unventilated crawlspaces are the best option for areas with hot, humid summers (since vents invite moisture into the cooler under-house space). Insulating the walls rather than the ceiling is generally best practice. While counterintuitive, an air-conditioned crawlspace is often more energy-efficient than a vented crawlspace.

Homeowners who have no experience with insulation and construction should seek help from a professional when trying to insulate the home.

Is More Insulation Always Better?

It seems like a no-brainer; insulation makes it easier to maintain your home's temperature, so the more you add, the more you save on your energy bills. Right? There's even a sustainable construction trend called "superinsulation," aiming to take down heating and cooling costs to near-zero.

When considering insulation for your home, it's essential to understand that more insulation isn't always better. While adding insulation can prevent cold air from entering your home and reduce heating costs, there are several factors to consider to achieve an energy-efficient home.

Firstly, the effectiveness of insulation depends on its proper installation and the overall design of your home. Insulating wall cavities, attics, and basements can significantly reduce heat loss, particularly in a cold climate. However, simply adding more insulation without addressing other issues like air leakage can lead to diminishing returns. It's crucial to seal gaps and cracks in your home's envelope to maximize the benefits of insulation.

In older homes, upgrading insulation can lead to substantial savings on heating bills and overall energy bills. However, there comes a point where adding more insulation provides minimal additional benefits. For instance, if your attic already has sufficient insulation to meet or exceed the recommended R-value for your region, adding more may not significantly reduce your heating costs.

An entire house approach is vital for maximizing energy efficiency. This means considering all aspects of your home’s thermal envelope, including windows, doors, and ventilation. Insulating wall cavities alone won’t be as effective if there are other areas where heat can escape or cold air can enter.

While increasing insulation can help save energy and create an energy-efficient home, it's essential to balance the amount of insulation with other energy-saving measures. Properly addressing air leakage and ensuring that insulation is installed correctly throughout the entire house will provide the best results in reducing heating bills and maintaining a comfortable indoor environment.

When To Insulate Your Home

The best time to insulate your home occurs before seasons with temperature extremes (like summer and winter). It's also best to insulate your home before trying to sell, because insulation can make your home more attractive to buyers. If you're thinking about selling your home and would like to boost insulation in a way that is going to attract the most buyers, contact a real estate professional. He or she can help you decide where to best install insulation and how to go about it.

If the opportunities of Nashville excite you, contact The Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage with Nashville's MLS at (615) 603-3602 to get in touch with local real estate agents who can help find the perfect Nashville home for you today.