Take this insulation tour for a real energy savings trip

(NC)—Did you know that a third of all air leakage in a home can be attributed to walls, floors and ceilings? You might think your home is well insulated, but if it has conventional air permeable fibreglass or cellulose insulation, gaps, seams or damage could compromise its performance.

Taking a tour of your home's insulation may not sound like much fun, but it could be a sound investment in energy and money savings. Here's a checklist for the four key stops to make on your tour, courtesy of the industry specialists at Icynene and at www.icynene.com:

Stop #1—The Attic

• Look out for sagging insulation batts or gaps.

• Are there any signs of moisture or mould on the insulation?

• Make sure soffit vents are not covered by insulation to maintain airflow.

Stop #2—The Basement

• Check insulation around the rim joists (where your first floor meets the basement foundation walls) for gaps.

• Seal any penetrations that go through the basement ceiling to the floor above, including those for electrical and plumbing service.

• Look for signs of moisture or mould on the insulation.

Stop #3—The Crawl Space

• Make sure the floor above a crawlspace is well insulated to keep heat from escaping into the crawlspace and to make your floors more comfortable.

• Check to make sure insulation has a moisture barrier or consider Icynene's closed cell spray foam insulation option that can provide a built-in vapour barrier.

• Check for signs of moisture or mould on the insulation.

Stop #4—The Room Over the Garage

• Is the room too cold in the winter and too warm in the summer? It might benefit from spray foam insulation for complete air sealing and proper adhesion to the garage ceiling.

• Look for sagging insulation batts and gaps.

• Check for signs of moisture on the insulation.

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