I thought I had a septic problem when my toilet and sink wasn't draining properly. This suspicion was confirmed when sewer water started backing up in my bathtub. I figured that this was a job for a professional, so I called a local sewer service company. Sure enough, my septic tank was full and this was causing the problem. After having my tank pumped out, my drains run freely and my toilet flushes better than it has in a long time. My name is Wesley Hammond and the experience that I had with my septic system is the reason that I'm writing this blog. Since sewage backup in the house is very unhealthy, everyone should be aware of the signs of a faulty septic system. As you read these articles, you'll learn about the different types of septic system problems and how you can keep them from happening.
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Insulation helps keep your home naturally cool in the summer and warm during the winter, allowing you to use less energy to keep rooms at an appropriate temperature. However, many older homes, don't have sufficient insulation. If you're sick of cranking the heat or AC to keep your home comfortable, check out these five places you should consider adding extra insulation.
Attic
The attic is an extremely easy place to add extra insulation, and it is also one of the most important, especially when it comes to trapping heat. To determine if you need more attic insulation, take a peek at your attic. Unless the existing insulation is well above the floor joists, you need more insulation. Make sure to check the entire span of the attic. While there may be enough in the center of the attic, there may not be enough around the edges. The R-Value of attic insulation should be about R-38 (10 to 14 inches). The most common types of insulation for attics are loose-fill or batt.
Cathedral Ceiling
Cathedral ceilings add beauty to any home, but they also create uneven temperatures in the room, which means adding extra insulation is a must. When insulation your cathedral ceiling, it's important to consider moisture. You either want to give the moisture space to flow up and out, so it doesn't get trapped, or you want it to get blocked completely. Vented batt insulation has gaps that allow the moisture to pass, while spray foam insulation creates an airtight seal to block moisture. Cathedral ceilings should have an R-Value of about R-22 to R-60, depending on your region's climate.
Exterior Walls
Exterior walls are the most vulnerable walls to heat transfer because they face the outside elements. Adding extra insulation to your walls, however, can prove difficult in a finished home, but blow-in insulation can make it possible without forcing you to destroy your walls. With blow-in insulation, you simply create a hole in your wall, blow the insulation into the wall and seal it back up without causing much damage. If you are doing a renovation or remodel, and the walls are open, you have greater options, including spray cellulose and batt insulation. The R-value of walls should be about R-5.
Floors Above the Garage
Many homes have rooms above the garage, but many people don't heat or cool their garages. If this is the case, you need to add extra insulation to the floors of rooms above your garage to stop the heat from rising and the cool air from falling. Because the air can get extremely cold in the garage, it's also important to add an air barrier, such as using caulk to seal the drywall. Failure to add this air barrier could make your extra insulation useless. Ensure the R-Value is about R-13 to R-30.
Air Ducts
The last place to add insulation is around the heating and cooling ducts in your home. Particularly, you want to insulate the ducts that pass through non-temperature controlled areas, such as the attic, crawlspace and basement. Adding insulation around the ducts helps keep the air cooler or warmer longer, so when it reaches your living spaces, it does a better job of heating or cooling. Without insulation, the air has time to cool or warm before it reaches you, forcing you to use more energy. An R-Value of R-6 or higher is desirable.
When adding insulation to your home, you don't have to remove the old insulation or use the same type of insulation. Just make sure the old and new insulation combines to reach the right R-Value. If you fear your home might need extra insulation, start by checking the attic. If there isn't enough insulation there, it's a good sign the rest of your house doesn't have enough either.
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