It’s again that time of year again when you don't dare leave the house without wearing a coat. Midwest winters have historically done a great job bringing bone-chilling cold, blustery winds, and my favorite, ice. But have you ever thought about your home’s “coat”? Or if it has one?
Does your basement, seem drafty and cold? Do you experience high energy bills? All these questions lead us to the same topic. Insulation. The reason we put on a coat is to stay warm, right? Well yes, but the technical reason is to provide a thermal barrier around our body to help keep generated heat from leaving. This is the same concept we want to accomplish in our homes.
Most of us take the precaution every fall to have a certified HVAC technician inspect our furnace to be certain our system will last through the winter, which is a great idea. The check is performed, any upgrades/repairs are made, and we feel good. But what if our house doesn’t have a “coat”? That newly tuned furnace may have its work cut out through the winter months. But also in the summer months too, because the same theory holds true. We want our houses to be cooler than the outside, but without proper insulation, that cooled air escapes, making our AC units work longer and harder.
A sure source for heat loss in the basement is at the rim joists. The rim joists are located directly above the foundation wall, and serve as a cap for the rows of floor joists. If no insulation is in this area in your home, you only have a 1 ½” thick board separating the inside, from the outside. Pretty thin space, right? Not to mention, wood isn’t exactly high on the R-value chart.
Another target area for heat loss are foundation walls themselves. Whether you have a crawlspace, or full basement, cold air conducts through the concrete walls and can drastically lower inside temperatures. The next time you are in the basement this winter, put your hand on the concrete wall, I’m betting it’s cold. Just another reason to give your home a “coat”!
A great solution towards getting your house a proper “coat” is SilverGlo Insulation panels. SilverGlo is a 2” thick panel infused with graphite powder to reflect heat and lower conductivity. The panels themselves carry an R-11 rating, but with our installation practices we are able to increase that to R-14! It is a quick, easy installation that can bring immediate changes, whether you have a crawlspace, a full basement, or just exposed rim joists. Give us a call to schedule a free inspection and estimate for proper insulation in your home.
Check out a short video about SilverGlo insulation panels! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYLOzMrl4B8