The insulation of your home is very important, and not just for your own comfort. If your home is not properly insulated, trapped humidity can lead to damage of the home's framework and structure, as well as to dangerous mould growth. Excessive heat or bitter cold in the home can also damage timber floors and other surface materials, and of course your utility bills will see a spike when your home is not properly insulated. While replacing the home's actual insulation itself can help to keep its interior protected, note a few other tasks you might consider, and which can add to your home's overall insulation.
Carpeting and fabrics
When you turn on the furnace in the wintertime, carpeting and fabric furniture will help keep the heat in that space. For colder climates, thick curtains on the windows can block cold air from coming in through the glass or the adjoining walls.
If you live in an area that gets both very hot and very cold throughout the year, consider tile floors and area rugs. You can put down the rugs for added warmth in wintertime, and then take them up to keep the space cool in summer. You might also layer your window treatments; add thick curtains over lightweight sheers, so you can remove the curtains during summertime and hang them back up during colder winter months.
Ductwork
Your home's ductwork can easily develop cracks and leaks, especially around connectors. In turn, those ducts can let out heat and cool air when you run the furnace or air conditioning. Have the ductwork cleaned and inspected for needed repairs every year, or as often as needed, to help insulate this area of the home and keep that warm or cool air from escaping.
Repairing windows
Damaged windows can easily let out heating and cooling, and let in heat and cold air from outside. This doesn't just mean visible chips or outright broken windows, as window glass can suffer smaller scratches and cracks that aren't easy to see, but which compromise the integrity and strength of those windows.
If your home's windows always seem dull, dirty, and dingy, even after cleaning, this often indicates that they're scratched and damaged and need repair or replacement. If you can hear wind rustling around the window frames, this can also mean that the caulk has come out of place, or there is a scratch or crack that can't be seen. Have the windows repaired as needed, and this will help to keep the home properly insulated.
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