Chicago has long been known for its brutal winters. The repeat polar vortices that blanketed the city in snow and ice for much of this past winter only drove home this fact. If you have struggled to stay warm these past few months or faced exorbitant energy bills in order to keep your home comfortable, improve your home’s insulation now so that it will keep you cooler this summer and warmer next winter. Focus first on the following parts of your home:
Attic Spaces
Home attic spaces should always be insulated, regardless of whether they are finished or not. Finished attic ceilings with cool spaces above them should be insulated, as should a few other areas that are indicated on the Department of Energy’s online home insulation map. In unfinished attic spaces, the attic access door and areas between and over all floor joists should also be insulated.
Exterior Walls
When a home’s siding does not offer great insulation, it is important for exterior walls to be insulated. Even homeowners whose siding is insulated may want to consider blow-in foam insulation as additional protection against cool air in the wintertime and warm air in the summertime.
Floors above Cold Spaces
If you have built over an unheated garage or parts of your home sit above unvented crawl spaces, you should insulate the floors above these spaces. This will keep cool air from cooling the floors above these spaces and, eventually, the rooms as well.
Windows and Doors
In homes with poorly insulated doors and windows, up to 35{4c8fd0987a672ac4f7f6915f4c64b1fcd7534767d6f45f4e3d72857a7b8808b2} of heating and cooling energy loss may be attributed to these areas. Storm windows and doors that are graded for your weather zone can help put an end to this common energy inefficiency.
At Apex Exteriors, we install energy-efficient roofs, offer insulated home siding options, and provide attic insulation services. If you are looking to reduce your energy costs and increase your at-home comfort by upgrading your Chicagoland home’s insulation, call us at (888) 884-1328. We can work with you to choose roof and siding styles that complement your home’s design and are made from materials that will help insulate your home.
Last Updated on February 23, 2018 by ApexRoofingServices
