Insulating your crawl space is an important part of a whole-home approach to energy savings. Whether you are trying to keep heat and humidity out during the summer or keep warm air in during the winter, you need to make sure you have the right insulation for the job.

Follow this guide for insulating your crawl space, and you will save all year long:

• Moisture barriers – Since there is no sunlight and airflow is inconsistent through the crawl space, moisture accumulates there and can cause big problems like rotting wood, insect infestation and mold growth. You can solve this issue with vapor barriers or encapsulation systems. Vapor barriers alone don’t remove moisture but they stop it from reaching the wood and flooring of your home. Encapsulation systems, on the other hand, line the outside of the crawl space and the ground to form a finished space where moisture can be easily controlled. Both solutions should also be complimented with a drainage and ventilation system to remove moisture from the area entirely.
• Insulation levels – Insulation is rated by its R-value, which is its thermal resistance. Georgia homes need insulation of at least R-19 for the floor and crawl space. The insulation should cover the entire floor and must be protected from the moisture below by one of the vapor barriers mentioned above.
• Outside air – You want to control the amount of air and humidity that enters the space. Typically, this is done with concrete blocks with vents or registers that can be opened or closed, depending on the season. The registers allow you to pipe in air from your home and keep the crawl space roughly the same temperature so humidity remains balanced. The vents control the supply of outside air so you can bring in fresh air when needed. The exterior of the space needs to be sealed in all places other than the vents and registers.

Before insulating your crawl space, contact Powers Heating & Air. We help homeowners in Peachtree City and the surrounding areas find the right products, install them correctly and maintain them for long-term savings and comfort.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree, GA and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about insulating your crawl space and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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