Insulating a Crawlspace?

**nuisance26** · 10-09-2006, 10:03 AM

~I live in a small rancher with a crawlspace. It is not insulated. Should it be? Our heater is in one corner with a clearance of about 4 feet but the rest of the space is about 2.5 feet clearance. I don't even think the pipes are insulated. We've never had a problem with pipes freezing or anything, but I was wondering if I could save energy by insulating down there and how would I do that?~

**pkellyc** · 10-09-2006, 12:43 PM

Is this your basement? I have a crawl space in my basement under my addition but it is not insulated. We did insulate the pipes with foam lengths that we cut to fit.

**MandiDawn** · 10-09-2006, 12:59 PM

I insulated my pipes this summer after I redid my bathroom, and a few years ago we insulated my crawlspace. We glued foam to the outside walls and stapled insulation up next to the floor. We also laid a layer of vis-queen down to keep dampness away. It helped alot - my floors are much warmer now.

**babetteq** · 10-09-2006, 02:38 PM

my old place had an insulated and heated crawl space (it was kept at 5*celsius to stop it from freezing in the winter). It made a huge difference, even when we turned the heat off in the fall.

**Missy** · 10-09-2006, 02:42 PM

our pipes froze last fall. we have found a huge difference in having insulating our crawlspace. so much better now in our bills and in our comfort

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 10-09-2006, 07:29 PM

Check with your local utility. Many will come out and do a free energy audit and will help you put in the right insulations and help you if there are rebates or credits available. In our town there are bonuses on like your water bill if you change out toliets but the city has to verify your old one vs your new.

Laurie in Bradenton

**kabin63** · 10-09-2006, 09:01 PM

I think insulating the crawl space is the best idea. It helps heating, cooling, and comfort levels.

**Goodwin17** · 10-10-2006, 04:28 AM

I think based on everyone's answers that it sounds like insulation would really help. I think too that Laurie's idea is important. I would never rule out having the utility company come by to do an energy audit, especially if it is free. Good luck.

**nuisance26** · 10-10-2006, 10:10 AM

~Thanks gals. I never even thought of insulation down there until I read some posts from last year. I think I will call the gas company. I hate people poking through my home, but I at least need advice on what kind of insulation to buy.~

**TheRootedNomad** · 10-15-2006, 01:07 PM

Wish I'd seen this sooner as my DH does heating and air.....I don't know that I can explain the why's of this but he is pretty adament about the crawl being insulated (and ours is heated and cooled as well). Insulating was what he was really adament about. He put foam board (which came from Home Dept in big sheets) up around the sides of the crawl ...I think he just cut it with a sheetrock Knife (razor) and wedged it in but I'll check with him to make sure. Then laid thick plastic on the ground. They actual sell what they call a ground barrior for carbon monoxide or insulating purposes but all it is is overpriced plastic. I think a couple of sections of our crawl even has out used shower curtain liners ducktaped together to connect them. I know he would also advise that all the runs (what the air travels through) in the crawl or attic be wrapped with insulation too....again I'll check with him tonight to see what you wrap them with. My 10 year old....8 at the time actually did most of this under the house with hubby's poor knees and 8 year olds liking things like under the house. Hubby cut the pieces (no knife for the 8 year okd and laid under the house with the 8 year old while he crawled around putting the stuff in place. Anyway point is I wouldn't pay anyone to insulate the crawl if you can get someone who isn't creeped by "under the house". Our house is almost 50 years old, about 1700 sq ft., gas prices were really high here last winter, and when most of my neighbors heating bills were running between 400 and 500 ours was just hovering uder 200. I think we broke 200 one month. (We do keep the thermosdate pretty low too but I'm sure the crawl had lots to do with a difference that huge)

Hope that helps and again I'll try to verify with DH exactly what he used and about what it should cost and post it as soon as I can.

**nuisance26** · 10-15-2006, 01:24 PM

~Thanks GG! That sounds fairly simple. I can use all the advice I can get. I know we have the plastic barrier over the ground but the walls are just bare, concrete block. I've been under the house and nothing is insulated. Our gas heating bill was as high as $180 this January. Foam board sounds easy to work with. How would I wrap my ducts? With that itchy batting insulation? Since I have nothing I suppose anything would be an improvement.~

**cozyquilter** · 10-15-2006, 04:13 PM

Here is a great link with some information: DH did ours with ridid foam a couple of years ago....

http://www.southface.org/web/resourc...e%2000-774.pdf

**TheRootedNomad** · 10-15-2006, 04:47 PM

Just got a check in call from DH and asked him about the crawl. The foamboard or insulation board can be bought at Lowe's, Home Depot ect. he said the price varies depending on the season location ect. and comes in different thicknesses from a half inch to 3 inches. (We used a 1/2 inch here in KY. Jersey gets a little colder but not much.....it justs stays colder longer and its generally alot snowier). He said for th most part its just wedged in there but that he did throw a nail or two in each piece in the top plate of the foundation (the wood on top of the concrete) even though the foam board actually goes up high enough to cover this. He said he put them in mostly in case a cat or a critter got under there. As for wrapping the duct's he said to just ask for insulation wrap for ducts at the home improvement store of your choice and they should be able to diret you (yes it's scratchy stuff too but a little thinner than the wall stuff). You cut it and wrap it aroung the ducts and tape the seems (ductape is fine). If you've got them laying in insulation in you're attic or crawl just cover what's still exposed. Also relayed that if the crawl or attic is insulated most people will tell you that it's not necessary to insulate the ducts.....and it's not....but it will help keep the air from cooling off or heating up while traveling through the crawl or attic making it take less time to heat or cool you're house. If you're only going to do one though do the walls. Finally he said that there is bubble wrap insulation for the ducts that isn't itchy but alot pricier.

**nuisance26** · 10-15-2006, 08:28 PM

~Thank you! I really appreciate the advice!~

**nuisance26** · 10-31-2006, 08:46 AM

~Well I got over to Lowes this weekend to price and buy samples of insulating materials. It was such a windy day that I didn't pick up the foam board. After looking at what was offered I opted to get Great Stuff spray foam, foam pipe wraps and foil sheeting. This nifty product looks like foil wrapped bubble paper. Instead of insulating between the floor joists, you staple these blankets joist to joist.I'll probably have to do this myself since my DH(the D is for 'doofus') got a convenient backache on Sunday. I whipped out my calculator in the store and discovered that both products were about the same price once you figure in insulation rails, mask and goggles. Less mess is best for me. And how we'd get those huge rolls of insulation through our tiny wall hole was a factor also. I figure the foil product to cost us $350, the foam sealant was $5, the pipe wraps about $30, and the foam board about $75. So after taxes and possible miscalculations, this will cost us $500. Ack! I'm planning on staying in this house another 2-3 years. I hope I recoup the investment. ~