NEWARK Blog

Should Crawl Spaces Be Insulated

Many homes are built with a crawl space, an unfinished area under the structure that houses electrical, plumbing, and HVAC components and serves as a buffer between the house and the ground. They aren't typically used for storage, and most homeowners don't enter their crawlspaces. That's why many owners are surprised to hear that installing crawl space insulation is beneficial. The following guide explores the details of insulating a crawl space and what the investment can do for your home.

How a Crawl Space Impacts a Home

Crawl spaces are vented to the outdoors, which means they are subject to the warmth, cold, and humidity outside. Though they may seem to be out of sight, out of mind areas, more than half of the air entering your home comes from your crawl space.

If the crawl space is humid or has taken on water, that excess humidity enters your home. The moisture leads to wood rot and mold growth while attracting insect pests. These conditions negatively impact air quality and can trigger allergies, asthma, and other health issues for your family.

Crawl spaces typically contain insulation that helps keep your floors warmer during the winter. High humidity during warmer months causes the insulation to fall out of place. When this happens, a home will be colder than usual in the winter, causing the HVAC system to work in overdrive.

What Are the Benefits of Crawl Space Insulation?

Insulation impacts a crawl space the same way it affects the central portions of a home. It's vital for maintaining indoor temperatures and preventing drafts, improving your home's energy efficiency and comfort.

A properly insulated crawl space saves you money on heating and cooling costs and HVAC repairs because your system will work under better conditions. The unit will consume less energy, resulting in greener living and lower bills. You'll also experience enhanced comfort from consistent indoor temperatures.

Installing insulation in your crawl space will also protect your home from excessive moisture, mold, and pests. Unless your entire home is well-insulated, moisture from the air and weather can infiltrate your home and attract pests like mice. Humid conditions also allow mold and mildew spores to thrive. Installing insulation with a moisture barrier will make your house more energy-efficient and protect against unwanted critters and fungal growth.

An additional benefit of preventing pests and mold from taking over your home through crawl space insulation is improved air quality. Indoor air can be as polluted as the air outside due to particulates from unaddressed rodent droppings, toxic mold spores, and unregulated humidity. As such, insulating your crawl space will improve your indoor air quality.

Safeguard your home and family's health with crawl space insulation services from Koala Insulation of Newark in Delaware. For over 15 years, these insulation experts have helped homeowners throughout New Castle County make their homes more energy efficient. These certified professionals offer home energy audits, various insulation methods, and upgraded services like air sealing. Visit them online for a complete list of services, or call (302) 273-8476 to schedule a consultation or request a quote.