How to Check Exterior Walls Insulation?

exterior walls insulation
If your house has no attic (most flat-roof houses don’t), chances are there’s a cockloft, a space between roof and ceiling, at the top floor level. Cocklofts can—and should—be insulated. How do you know if your cockloft has enough insulation? Inspect it. Some cocklofts have hatches that are easily removed. If yours doesn’t, remove a ceiling light fixture and check around the edges for insulation. Or, in a closet, poke a hole in the ceiling material and check. (Cocklofts are difficult to insulate. A skilled and reputable professional should do that. (more…)

Insulating Unfinished Walls

insulating unfinished walls
Using blankets the width of your wall studs, insert the blanket between the studs and staple to the studs. (The job is easier if you start from the top and work down, just as you do when you wall- paper your home. What? You don’ t wallpaper your home? Well, after you master insulating from the top down, you can begin.) Be certain the insulation fits snugly against the top piece of framing. (more…)

Limitations of Hot Water Steam Heating

hot water steam heating
Steam is a great heat transfer medium simply because it’s easy to move inside your system. Steam heating is known to have a very high heat retention capacity. The heat capacity of steam is much bigger compare than that of water. Steam systems are frequently working on very low pressure and generally below 220F. (more…)

Insulating Unfinished Masonry Walls and Window Frames

insulating windows
You may have unfinished masonry walls in your basement. To insulate them, you’ve first got to create wall studs to hold the insulation material. Using masonry nails, fasten 2×2 furring strips in place vertically, placing them 16 or 24 inches apart (measure from the center of each strip to the center of the next strip). Then insulate as with any other unfinished wall.

Be sure you get insulation in the spaces around unfinished walls, doors, and windows. Because the framing area is narrow, loose insulation must be hand-packed into it.