Home insulation is a very important exercise that will not only save you of energy but will also make your home a great place to be in. A well insulated home will give you a good internal environment where you and your family can enjoy even in the dead of winter. Because of poor insulation, many homes overwork their heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems leading to doubling or even tripling of power bills.

One of the closely watched components when it comes to insulation is the cost. Many home owners are price-sensitive when it comes to home insulation processes. To save on your hard earned pennies, below are tips that can help you insulate your home on a budget.

Choose Your Insulation Carefully

There are two main categories of insulation that you can choose from. The first is bulk insulation while the other is reflective insulation.Bulk insulation makes use of pockets of trapped air to resist the transmission of convected and conducted heat. Regardless of the direction from which heat is flowing, its thermal resistance remains the same.

Reflective insulation relies on an air layer measuring about 25 mm. Unlike bulk insulation, the thermal resistance exuded by reflective insulation varies depending on the direction of heat flow.

Both bulk and reflective insulation come in different materials such as glass wool and cellulose fiber and you can choose the one that suits your budget. Compared to receptive insulation, bulk insulation is effective both in winter and summer.

Know the Insulation Levels for Your Climate

Different climates have different insulation levels. By knowing the specific or recommended insulation level for your climate, you will be able to save money by installing the exact insulation required without any additional or modifications. The R values for the roof insulation and that of the wall differ. Normally, the ceilings and roof will need insulation materials with high R values compared to the materials used on the walls.

Where to Install the Insulation

In order to save on costs while getting the maximum possible benefit, knowing where to install the insulation will save you a great deal. The most common areas to insulate include the roof, the ceiling and the floor. However, windows also need insulation to limit chances of heat loss.

Roof and Ceilings – Insulation installed under roofing material will help in cutting down radiant heat gain. On the other hand, insulated ceilings will reduce significantly any heat loss or heat gains. On the ceiling, the insulation is usually installed between the joists. In instances where outdoor living spaces are extensively used, insulating veranda roofs can help in reducing radiant heat gain in hot climates.

Floor – To enhance heat retention within your home, consider installing insulation on the underside of your floorboards. Because of the technicality, this process may have to be undertaken by a registered installer.

One of the ways in which you can insulate the floor is by use of a solid rug. By putting a solid rug on bare floorboards, your toes will be kept warm and it will also block some draughts.

Fit Draught-Proof Gaps

To help in solving draught where some areas of the house are colder than the rest, you can install draught excluders. These are fitted in the gaps around your windows. Covering draughty letter boxes can also be an amicable solution. All these measures will help in retaining heat within your home.

If you are good enough, you can do the insulation installation on your own but if you feel inadequate, a specialist can help you at a small fee.