Is your furnace on full blast yet you still feel that your feet are as cold as ice? Your crawl space insulation just might be the culprit. Check under your home. If your home was constructed before the 1990s, chances are that the insulation there is already on its last leg, or worse, you might find that your crawl space doesn’t even have insulation.
That said, to keep your and family warm and toasty when needed, you have to choose the right insulation option for your specific climate .
Insulation for Generally Moderate Climates
If you don’t really experience below freezing temperatures, R-19 fiberglass batts that are 6-inches thick, coupled with proper mold prevention and moisture control, could suffice. The job entails installing the batts so that they come in contact with your subfloor’s underside and placing crisscross wire webbing or wood laths every 18 inches for optimum support.
Next is sealing the subfloor and the holes for plumbing and electrical wiring with spray foam insulation by a contractor in Kansas City . You should opt for closed-cell spray foam since it offers better moisture and thermal protection than the open cell variant, which easily soaks up moisture.
Also, if you’re DIY-ing your insulation project, avoid tension or stay rods as these would compress the batts and reduce its insulation capacity. You would also need an insulation contractor to assess the ventilation requirements of your crawl space.
Insulation for Colder Climates
If you live in a place with a colder clime, the best option is to insulate your crawl space and seal off air leaks so that your HVAC ducts and plumbing pipes would be safeguarded from freezing temperatures, and could, therefore, help in conserving energy.
You would need rigid insulation for this, and while you could DIY this task, it’s a very time-consuming and complex project that requires multiple complicated steps. Generally speaking, the entire process would involve removing vents and sealing all holes, insulating the rim joist and foundation, adding a vapor barrier, and eliminating moisture by using a sump pump or dehumidifier.
When your crawl space is properly insulated or sealed off from moisture and freezing temperatures, you could even consider linking your HVAC system through vents. This way, heated air could circulate under your flooring, heat them up, and keep you and your family warm.
You also won’t need to cool your craw; space during the summer months, you could just close the vents when your air conditioning system is turned on.