PEARLAND Blog

How Underfloor Insulation Can Improve Your Environment

Underfloor insulation is the material that can be found right underneath your feet! When installed in between the floor joists of your home, this insulation helps to prevent heat loss, water damage, and air leaks. However, many homeowners aren’t familiar with the importance of these benefits and how well underfloor insulation can contribute to monthly savings. Your local experts at Koala Insulation of Pearland have put together a breakdown of underfloor insulation and the positive impact it has on your environment!

Will Installing Insulation Damage My Floors?

As a homeowner, you may be concerned that new insulation installations could have an impact on your environment, especially if you’re trying to update the insulation under your floors. Luckily, there are a number of effective ways to remove, replace, or install new material with little to no influence on the space. For example, if your home has suspended timber floors, your team of insulation experts can simply lift the floorboards in order to gain access to the floor joists. In other houses, they can easily access the underfloor area through the basement of crawl spaces.

When the insulation team is inspecting the underfloor insulation, one of their primary concerns is moisture and condensation collection. Unfortunately, this issue is commonly overlooked when homeowners are attempting DIY insulation projects; they may neglect to effectively inspect, clean, and prepare the area before installing the new material, which can leave behind moisture. Once that dampness is trapped under the insulation, the risk of mold growth, rot, and bacteria increases significantly. If you’re unsure about the insulation that can be found right under your feet, your local insulation professionals can evaluate the current condition of your home without having to disturb your space.   

Updated Underfloor Insulation Benefits

• Heat Loss

Insulation under your floorboards needs to be regularly evaluated and updated to improve thermal efficiency and climate control. The material reduces heat transfer, which is how easily heat enters and exits a building. When you don’t have a sufficient barrier to reduce the movement of heat throughout your home, about 10% of heat can be lost just through the floor alone. If you’re experiencing stifling temperatures in the summer and a frigid environment in the winter, it may be due to insufficient or deteriorated material.

However, it’s important to remember that underfloor insulation doesn’t necessarily have a warming effect. The material is designed to help keep your floors from feeling ice cold, but it won’t necessarily heat them up in exchange. Instead, the primary function of this insulation is to retain the heat that’s meant to be inside the home.

• Air Sealing

If you're feeling uncomfortable drafts and cold spots throughout the house, underinsulated floors could be the culprit, especially if you're on a raised foundation. This increase in discomfort is caused by the air that enters your home through small gaps and spaces between the floor and the ground, sneaking its way inside when there isn't properly installed insulation.

Your team of insulation experts can help reduce these air leaks by adding the right material between floor joists and applying air sealing to any cracks, holes, or openings. When there are fewer ways for air to infiltrate your home, the house is protected from outdoor pollutants, allergens, and other irritants and pests. Even the most seemingly insignificant opening can allow for moisture and outdoor debris to enter your environment.

• Vapor Barrier

Earlier, we briefly discussed how moisture can bring a significant risk of damage and health hazards to your home by ruining the integrity of your building envelope. If your home has wood flooring, condensation and unnoticed or hidden water damage can lead to mold growth, warped wood, and pest infestation. This could increase your risk of respiratory irritation, allergies, and other illnesses.

When sufficient insulation is installed throughout the crawl spaces and your basement, the material works to create a tight vapor barrier. This helps to reduce condensation and dampness that comes from the ground below the house. However, it’s important to remember that the insulation needs to be supported with effective drainage and crawl space ventilation to help defend against water problems that can occur after heavy rain and thunderstorms.

• Energy Costs

Finally, one of the most influential benefits underfloor insulation can contribute to your household is by helping you save on monthly heating and cooling costs. You can significantly lower your energy usage and monthly energy bills by an average of 15% with updated insulation and air sealing materials in your home! When these materials are deteriorated or damaged, you may experience heat loss in the winter and heat gain throughout the summer, especially if you’re missing properly installed insulation in crucial areas like under the floor.

When this is the case, your HVAC system needs to run more often in order to help regulate the temperature throughout the house. Not only does this increase energy waste and your utility bills, but the increased use could also heighten the risk of additional maintenance needs on a strained and overworked unit.

The first step to reducing your monthly costs is evaluating your home for proper insulation and air sealing. By adding necessary material to commonly overlooked areas like between ceiling and floor joists, throughout the basement, and in crawl spaces, you can improve your home’s climate control capabilities. If you’re noticing a spike in bills and maintenance fees, it’s time to take a closer look at your home’s insulation and air sealing with local professionals.

How Can Koala Insulation of Pearland Improve Your Environment

Koala Insulation of Pearland is a team of trained and experienced insulation professionals that is dedicated to improving the comfort and safety of our community. By offering free evaluations, we can help our neighbors understand the importance of improved insulation and air sealing while also giving them cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions to choose from. You and your household have the opportunity to take your current schedule and budget into account in order to make informed decisions based on the breakdown we provide of the current condition of your house. Contact Koala Insulation of Pearland today to schedule your free evaluation and learn more about how insulation and air sealing can impact your environment.