Residential insulation helps to maximise your home's overall energy efficiency by minimising heat transfer into and out of the home. A well-designed and properly insulated house will require very little mechanical heating and cooling to provide the desired level of indoor comfort. This helps to keep the cost of home heating and cooling as low as possible. Insulation also helps to prevent the noise from outside from disrupting the peace and quiet inside your home.   

To maximise potential energy savings from your insulation while keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer, you'll need to do more than just insulate your house the right way. Here are some tips for getting the most energy efficiency from your residential insulation.

Weather stripping for doors and windows

Gap formation around the doors and windows of your house is inevitable. As the soil beneath the foundation of the house moves, it pulls the walls down and creates gaps around the doors and windows. If left unsealed, these gaps can be a significant cause of air leaks in your home.

Weather stripping prevents air loss through the gaps that may exist around your door and window openings. It helps to contain the interior air for thermal comfort, thus saving you money by reducing the need for additional home heating and cooling. 

Fixing cracks in walls

Cracks may also form in your walls as a result of soil movement. These cracks can be a major source of air loss in your house. How you seal these cracks will depend on their size. You can use caulk to seal small cracks, but if you have large cracks, consider using spray foam or epoxy filler. 

It's recommended that you repair cracked walls as quickly as possible. When left unrepaired, cracks tend to spread and become larger over time, leading to major structural damage to your house.

Sealing electrical outlets

Your home's electrical outlets might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you're looking for ways to make your home airtight, but they can be a major source of draughts in the home. The electrical conduits running in the walls of your house can allow air to enter and leave your living areas, resulting in reduced indoor comfort.

Using foam gaskets to seal all the electrical outlets in your home will help to minimise air leaks and also improve indoor air quality.

Making your home airtight is crucial for maximising the performance and efficiency of your residential insulation, so it's a good idea to get your house inspected for air leaks before adding insulation to it. For more information, feel free to contact a residential insulation contractor near you.

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