When most homeowners think of insulation, they picture their attic or maybe the walls behind the drywall. While these are important spaces to insulate, there are many other areas throughout your home that could be leaking energy—and money—without you even realizing it.
At Koala Insulation of Central Jersey, we often find that homes are under-insulated in some of the most overlooked (but critically important) areas. These insulation gaps can lead to inconsistent indoor temperatures, high energy bills, drafty rooms, and even moisture problems.
In this blog, we’ll explore 7 commonly forgotten areas to insulate and why addressing them can have a major impact on your home’s energy efficiency, comfort, and long-term performance.
1. Garage Walls and Ceilings
While your garage may not be a conditioned space, the walls and ceilings that are connected to your home absolutely should be insulated. This includes any shared walls with bedrooms, bonus rooms, or laundry areas above or adjacent to the garage.
Why it matters:
- Reduces cold drafts from seeping into living spaces
- Prevents heat gain in summer from garage roof
- Improves temperature regulation in above-garage rooms
Koala Insulation of Central Jersey offers garage insulation solutions using fiberglass batts, spray foam, or blown-in insulation, depending on the layout of your space.
2. Rim Joists
Rim joists are located where your home’s floor framing meets the foundation walls—often in the basement or crawl space. This area is a common source of air leakage and heat loss but is frequently overlooked during insulation installations.
Why it matters:
- Eliminates cold floor drafts
- Prevents moisture intrusion and condensation
- Reduces heating demand in winter
Our team seals and insulates rim joists using closed-cell spray foam to provide both air sealing and insulation in one application.
3. Crawl Spaces
If your home has a crawl space, it’s essential to ensure it is properly insulated and sealed. Many older homes in Central Jersey have vented crawl spaces that allow cold, damp air to infiltrate the living space above.
Why it matters:
- Protects plumbing from freezing
- Prevents mold and moisture buildup
- Increases comfort in first-floor rooms
Koala Insulation of Central Jersey can encapsulate your crawl space with rigid foam board or spray foam and install vapor barriers to create a dry, efficient environment.
4. Attic Access Doors and Hatches
Even if your attic is insulated, the access point—whether it’s a pull-down ladder, hatch, or knee wall door—often isn’t. This small area can create a big leak in your home’s thermal envelope.
Why it matters:
- Reduces heat loss in winter
- Prevents hot air intrusion in summer
- Stops conditioned air from escaping
We install insulated attic access covers and weatherstripping to keep your attic sealed tight, all without sacrificing accessibility.
5. Interior Walls Around Plumbing
Many homeowners don’t think about insulating around plumbing pipes—especially in interior walls—but it can make a big difference.
Why it matters:
- Prevents pipes from freezing in extreme temperatures
- Reduces water heater workload
- Damps sound from running water
Properly insulating these areas can also protect against water damage by controlling condensation and improving temperature stability.
6. Basement Ceilings and Walls
Even if your basement is unfinished, insulating the ceilings and walls can make your home significantly more energy efficient and comfortable.
Why it matters:
- Keeps floors above warmer
- Reduces energy loss through the foundation
- Prepares the space for future finishing
At Koala Insulation of Central Jersey, we use spray foam or rigid foam board for below-grade applications, depending on moisture levels and code requirements.
7. Behind Knee Walls and Eaves
In homes with finished attics or sloped ceilings, the short vertical walls (knee walls) and angled rooflines often hide uninsulated or under-insulated spaces. These hidden voids can be massive energy drains.
Why it matters:
- Prevents hot and cold spots in upper floors
- Improves comfort in finished attic spaces
- Enhances HVAC performance
We identify and insulate these hard-to-reach areas to ensure your entire thermal envelope is sealed, not just the obvious places.
Why These Areas Are Often Missed
There are a few reasons these spots are commonly forgotten:
- Out of sight, out of mind: If you can’t see it, it’s easy to overlook.
- Assumed coverage: Many homeowners believe insulation is already present in these spots.
- DIY limitations: Some areas are hard to access or insulate without professional tools and experience.
But skipping these areas can undermine the performance of your entire home. That’s why Koala Insulation of Central Jersey performs full-home energy assessments before every insulation project to ensure nothing is missed.
Why Choose Koala Insulation of Central Jersey?
When you work with Koala Insulation of Central Jersey, you’re choosing:
- Certified, trained installers with local experience
- Custom insulation solutions for every part of your home
- Code-compliant, high-efficiency materials
- Friendly, professional service with minimal disruption
We don’t just blow in some insulation and call it a day. We take a comprehensive approach to home energy performance, making sure every leak, gap, and vulnerable space is sealed and protected.
Conclusion
If you’ve already insulated your attic and walls but still deal with high utility bills or drafty rooms, it might be time to take a closer look at the often-forgotten areas. Spaces like rim joists, attic hatches, crawl spaces, and garage walls can make a huge difference when properly insulated.
Let Koala Insulation of Central Jersey help you uncover hidden energy losses and create a truly comfortable, efficient home. Call us today at (732) 387-4842 or visit https://koalainsulation.com/central-jersey for a free estimate!