The Proper Basement Insulation Will Save You Energy and Money

Basement insulation and crawlspace insulation is often overlooked, but the wise homeowner will insulate under his house because he will understand that the basement is a black hole for heat loss. Basement floor insulation and basement wall insulation are key factors for conserving energy and maintaining a consistent, even temperature throughout the house. Most of us think of basements as cold, dark, damp rooms that you never want to enter. The heat in the main floors of your home can move easily through an uninsulated basement ceiling then through the basement floor to the ground. This leaves the floor of your home cold and keeps your utility bills at a very NON-cost effective rate.

It is a well understood law of physics that heat goes from a warmer region to a cooler region. This transfer of heat is accomplished in three ways:

Conduction- Direct Contact: Transfer of heat from one solid object to another when they are in contact with each other.

Convection- Circulation: Transfer of heat in the air caused by the movement of heated air.

Radiant- Electromagnetic: Transfer of heat from infra-red waves at the contact of a material.

The purpose of insulation is to hinder the transfer of heat through convection and radiation by means of the least amount of solid conduction, or insulation. This means that we need to find the most efficient and convenient insulation type to block air flow and heat loss through walls, windows, ceilings, all nooks and crannies, and definitely through basements.

Basement insulation is not as easy as it might seem, therefore, we recommend that you find a professional to install your basement insulation or crawlspace insulation. You want your contractor to have specific experience insulating a basement, because a lot of money can be wasted by someone who is unsure of the appropriate insulation for the climate, region, construction, or shape of the house.

A big problem for basements and crawlspaces is moisture. A crawlspace vapor barrier and basement vapor barriers are essential factors when insulating under your house because moisture can seep through your walls and then get trapped in the insulation. The absorbed moisture leads to condensation which leads to worse issues of mold, mildew, and fungus to drywall and wood frames. It can also cause rust and corrosion to steel or metal buildings.

Fiberglass is often used for basement insulation and crawlspace insulation. But fiberglass should be seriously avoided in this situation. Fiberglass is highly susceptible to moisture absorption which causes the problems of rot and decay that we have already discussed. The moisture also greatly decreases the R-value of the fiberglass insulation.

Closed-cell polyurethane spray foam is another popular choice for basements. Closed-cell foam is a good vapor barrier, but spray foams create a terribly messy installation process. It is also very important to have spray foam install by an experienced professional, otherwise you will spend more money than is necessary.

Reflective insulation is becoming a more and more common option for basement insulation due to its superior performance as a vapor barrier. Therma-Comfort offers a Foil Double Bubble Foil product that has absolutely 0.000 water vapor permeance. For this reason alone, reflective insulation is an excellent alternative to fiberglass and spray foams. But there's more. Therma-Comfort is incredibly easy to install. There are no toxins released which might require goggles or protective breathing gear. To install Therma-Comfort all you need is a measuring device, scissors or a knife, and tape or staples.

Therma-Comfort is an excellent reflective insulation that we have worked hard to design and create to become one of the most efficient and effective methods of basement and crawlspace insulation on the market. We stand behind our research and products. It is easy to install at the time of construction and it works well as an addition to already existing insulation. We realize that the issue of insulating basement walls is important especially in these days when utility and energy bills are eating up our ever precious incomes. Please call us with any questions or concerns on how to insulate basement walls at (951) 675-1207. We are more than happy to share our experience and expertise with you.