sNOw More Winter: Your Basement Hates the Cold More Than You

The only thing more deserted than your neighborhood swimming pool or outdoor ice-cream parlor this winter is your seemingly negative degree basement. Ever wonder why your family avoids it at all costs once January comes along? The cold temperature down there might be why. 

The average home spends half their energy bill on heating and cooling. First, the home is warmed or cooled to the desired temperature. Then the heating/cooling system kicks in to keep it at that temperature, making up for any heat that gets in or out. The systems only cost money when running so it's important to keep your home well insulated, especially in the winter. 

Many homeowners fall victim to uninsulated basements as they may not even be aware they have one. If you bought your home with an unfinished basement, chances are your walls, rim joists, and windows are uninsulated. With the heating system, ducts, and water heater in the basement, these produce heat that may warm up the area to some degree but that heat is lost through the windows and walls. While warm air escapes, cold air comes in. This air will not only cool down the rest of the house, but also cool down the heating systems thus contributing to the high energy bills. 

So how can a basement be insulated?

Air sealing your basement is the first step. A blower door test can indicate where the leaks are happening so those areas can be sealed. Not air sealing your home is like leaving a window open. This air sealing process can reduce heating and cooling costs by 20%.

Then, we recommend three main steps to insulation. 

First, seal the rim joist. By sealing the outer edge of the house framing, this stops any major air leaks and heat loss. Second, insulate the foundation walls. Rigid foam insulation does not absorb water and won't compress or fall out of place. Lastly, insulate the floor tiles. ThermalDry tiles add a layer of rigid foam insulation that keep the floor warm and banish any mold growth. 

Think of the insulation process as giving your basement a warm, fuzzy, parka for the winter. You wouldn't want to walk around in a T-shirt right now, would you?