TWIN CITIES WEST Blog

Why Insulate Your Rim Joists?

It is very common to experience climate changes in your home as the seasons change. As winter arrives, you may notice specific areas of your home being much cooler or warmer than other parts.

Differing room temperatures that cause you to wear extra layers or use a blanket might signify a more significant issue at hand. If you experience this, there may be air leaks or poor insulation in your home’s windows, walls, or attic.

However, if you find yourself wearing slippers or grabbing an extra pair of socks due to cold floors, you potentially have a different insulation problem. Cold floors indicate poor sealing or insulation in your home’s basement or floor foundation.

Generally, the parts of the floor structure that lack insulation are the rim joists. Without rim joist insulation, chilly floors will be a recurring problem during the wintertime.

Will Insulating My Rim Joists Make My House Warmer?

If you’d like to keep your floors and house warmer, start by insulating your rim joists. Joists function as the primary structure of your home’s floor frame. They are further supported on the ends by the foundation of your home.

Your rim joists are located at the top of your basement walls. They typically look like wooden squares that extend around the perimeter of your basement. The primary function of rim joists is to support the weight of the floor resting on the joists. 

Without proper basement insulation, the only barrier between the outdoors and the inside of your home is the brick or siding. Your rim joists will likely span the perimeter of your home near the ground level and will have areas where utilities like electricity and gas will enter.

As such, rim joists are typically neglected and under-insulated, leading to cold floors thanks to energy loss and drafts entering through your basement. With properly insulated rim joists, you’ll be able to keep the heat in and cold air out.

How Effective Is Rim Joist Basement Insulation?

Installing rim joist insulation is one of the easiest ways to increase the comfort of your home and improve its energy efficiency. 

This simple but often forgotten task will seal and insulate the rim joists of your floor structure. Through this insulation, you’ll be able to eliminate drafts and air leaks that cause cold floors. Furthermore, proper insulation will force the heat to stay in your home, providing consistent temperatures year-round. 

Along with rim joist insulation, homeowners frequently choose to invest in air sealing and attic insulation. This approach makes sense because energy may be lost through your attic if it’s not sealed properly. 

You will get the best results from rim joist insulation by ensuring both your attic and basement are properly sealed and insulated.

Minnesota Insulation Experts

If you’re experiencing uncomfortably cold floors or inconsistent temperatures in your home, contact Koala Insulation of Twin Cities West today.

Book a free consultation and give your home and family the relief they deserve. After a thorough inspection of your home and HVAC system, we’ll provide the most optimal plan of action for you.