Providing good insulation for your cellar can help prevent mold and awful smells, and cut down on your heating costs. Consider insulating material before you choose what colour to paint the walls or go searching to get a billiards table to the new games room. Converting your cellar to habitable space will increase the value of your home, but it will not be much use if nobody can stand being at the cellar after your big remodeling project.
Energy Audits
Perform an energy audit on your own cellar. These audits assess the vital issues with your cellar’s insulation. Even though these audits can be costly, they are worthwhile. Based on California’s Energy Commission, energy audits resolve occupant comfort issues and reduce your center’s maintenance expenses. Auditors use high-tech methods like infrared cameras and blower door tests to spot where your house’s insulation is failing.
Seal Air Leaks
Prevent drafts in your cellar by sealing cracks using spray foam. According to”Fine Homebuilding,” most air leaks happen between the concrete walls of their base and wooden joints and connections on your sub floor construction. This wastes energy and causes a lot of those moisture issues standard of basements.
Prevent Plastic Vapor Barriers
Plastic vapor barriers are often used to offer an extra layer of insulating material and prevent water ingress. If insulating a basement wall they are not a fantastic idea. Avoid using plastic vapor barriers. They will trap moisture and encourage the development of mould and mildew on your basement walls.
Weatherstrip Doors and Windows
A very simple but efficient procedure to improver your cellar’s insulation would be to install weatherstripping on your cellar doors and windows. The U.S. Department of Energy suggests the use of metal or vinyl weatherstripping in houses to seal doors and windows to decrease the energy cost of your home. Metal and vinyl weatherstripping are equally affordable and durable materials ideal for insulation. Prevent open-cell foams and felt. They are cheap, but also ugly and inefficient at blocking drafts.