Winter Savings: Keeping Warm & Saving Money by Insulating Your Basement

While the cooler temperatures that Fall brings are a welcome relief, it is also a reminder that winter is just around the corner. Now is the time to make sure that your home will be able to handle the harshness that winter weather can cause. One of the easiest and most cost effective ways to keep your home warm is through proper insulation.

Many homeowners overlook the idea of insulating their basements. However, if left unaddressed, your basement will be freezing and your energy costs will skyrocket. In fact, basements can cause up to 30% of the energy loss in a home. By adding insulation to your basement, you can save nearly $170 on your annual energy bill.

Insulating your basement walls

Adding insulation to your basement walls is a more efficient way of saving energy. Unlike your basement ceiling, there are no wires or pipes to work around. This also makes your basement more habitable during the cold winter months.

Build a frame/stud wall

When beginning the process of installing insulation to your basement walls, you must first build a frame or stud wall over your existing concrete/cinder block walls. A benefit to having a frame is the ability to easily run electric and plumbing. This will give you the ability to make your basement into the perfect space that you’ve always wanted.

Installing insulation

After building the frame/stud wall, you can begin installing the insulation. This will be a fiberglass batt insulation, which provides the best energy saving qualities. When installing insulation, you MUST install a vapor barrier on the warmest side of the wall — usually the inside. The vapor barrier will prevent mold and mildew from entering your basement and creating a hazardous environment.

Add rigid foam board insulation

This is another essential step in insulating your basement. Rigid foam board insulation will keep any water vapor in a gaseous state and prevent it from condensing onto your drywall.

Finish by dry-walling

Adding drywall to your frame is important for both practical and cosmetic reasons. Not only will it allow you to paint and make your basement into a beautiful space, but it is also necessary for proper fire safety. Most safety codes call for a fire barrier – drywall – which is at least 1/2 of an inch thick. This will keep your family safe in case of any emergency.

With an insulated basement, not only can you save money on your heating bill, but you can also enjoy the added living space. Don’t wait until the first snowfall. Take the initiative now and begin installing insulation in your basement. With the added comfort of a warm basement, you can make sure that you and your family are able to enjoy all of the snow days to come.

Ameri-Dry Waterproofing

With over 30 years of basement waterproofing experience, Ameri-Dry offers patented, permanently dry systems that are backed by a full lifetime warranty. For more information about Ameri-Dry and the Ameri-Dry Guy, visit our website at ameri-dry.com.