How to Insulate Your Home

Co-authored by Kevin Turner and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: April 10, 2022 References

Around half of all your heat can escape if your home is not properly insulated. Instead of turning up the thermostat, get insulated! This guide will show you how to insulate your home, saving you hundreds on your energy bills, as well as making a massive reduction to your carbon footprint.

Steps

1
Stop energy loss via the doors. Fit draught excluders around all exterior doors, and interior if needs be.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Lui Colmenares
Handyman
Expert Interview. 18 August 2020.} Sealant strips can be bought cheaply from DIY stores and are very easy to fit - just like applying sticky tape. Don't forget to get a brush trim for letter boxes, bigger gaps and the bottom of doors.^{[2]
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Research source}
2
Ensure the windows are well insulated.^{[3]
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Research source} Cracks and crevices around window frames are a popular escape point for warm air. To check for weak points in your window, run the palm of your hand around the edge of the frame. If you feel a breeze, you've got a hole. Patch the weak points up with a putty or sealer.
- To make it really easy on yourself get the type that comes in a tube. Squirt it on, smooth it over, job done.
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3
Consider double glazing.^{[4]
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Research source} It's worth investing in double glazing if you don't already have it.^{[5]
X
Expert Source

Kevin Turner
Commercial Handyman
Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.} This could save you between up to hundreds of dollars or pounds on your annual heating bill.
- There is a gap between the two panes that acts as a barrier.^{[6]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Kevin Turner
  Commercial Handyman
  Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.}
- It prevents the outside and inside temperatures from affecting each other.^{[7]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Kevin Turner
  Commercial Handyman
  Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.}
4
Use window dressings to assist. Closing curtains or blinds after dark also traps in the warm air and prevents draughts. And it looks cozy too! Use curtains and blinds with thermal backing for added warmth retention.
5
Fill any floor gaps.^{[8]
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Research source} Most homes have gaps between the skirting board and the floor, and if your have floorboards there's likely to be a few gaps between them too. This is a job for the silicone sealer. If you have a wood floor and want to insulate thoroughly, you could get the experts in to fit floor insulation beneath the boards. Putting a rug down isn't a bad idea either.
6
Insulate the loft or attic.^{[9]
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Research source} Laying loft insulation on the average home can save a whopping 1 tonne of carbon dioxide a year, and make a major dent in you bills. This is one of the most efficient energy savings options, it is cheap and simple, any person with no experience can do this. It is just to get fiberglass wool and cover all places under your ruff you have access to, fill all gaps in your home around your rooms with it; it costs some 5 Euro or US$6.80 per meter square for 15 centimeter (5.9 in) thick Glass wool. Glass wool is made of mixture of natural sand and recycled glass at 1,450 °C (2642 °F), the glass that is produced is converted into fibers. Glass wool is recyclable material.
7
Build drywall over "cold wall".^{[10]
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Research source} If you have some "cold wall" in your home , usually concrete wall with no or with bad insulation you can build 10–15 centimeter (3.9–5.9 in) thick dry wall to it. Process is very simple , you can choose between Ytong wall or plasterboard wall. Plasterboard wall is very simple to build and you can add very good and very cheap Glass wool into it. Glass wool is excellent insulator but you can get glass wool for soundproofing. Both kind of walls are Fire-resistant.
8
Wrap your hot water tank in a cosy 80 mm jacket.^{[11]
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Research source} This will cut heat loss by 75 %, and you'll recoup the cost of it in less than 6 months.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I insulate my home cheaply?

Lui Colmenares
Handyman
Lui Colmenares is a handyman and licensed home improvement contractor for Mr. Handy NYC based in New York City, New York. Lui is trained and educated as an industrial engineer and specializes in carpentry, painting, and general handyman work such as mounting TVs, doorknob and deadbolt installation, furniture assembly, tile repair, and grouting. Mr. Handy NYC prides itself on quality work performed with speed, skill, and punctuality.

Lui Colmenares

Handyman

Expert Answer

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Look for draft stoppers to slide onto the bottoms of your exterior doors to prevent cold air from coming in.
Question

How much does it cost to insulate your house?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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It depends on the type of insulation and whether you do it by yourself or call in a pro. For instance, a DIY blow-in insulation job might cost you about $500, while getting a professional to do the same job could cost you around $2,000. Adding a reflective barrier to your attic, on the other hand, might run around $300 (if you do it yourself) or $700 (if a pro does it).
Question

Can you insulate your house yourself?

wikiHow Staff Editor
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Some types of insulation are easier to DIY than others. For example, you can easily lay down insulation material on the floor in your attic. You can also add batting to the walls in your basement or crawlspace. You might need to call in a pro if you want to insulate exterior wall cavities, since this involves cutting through the walls with special tools.