February 10, 2021
These days, it’s strange to think of a home without insulation. However, insulation is a fairly recent feature for residences, and homes that are 60 years or older might not have insulation. You may like the charm of a historic home, but that doesn’t mean you want to deal with the uncomfortably cold or hot temperatures in your own home. Breaking into the walls of your home — especially in the days when plaster walls where the norm — can be a pain, so some homeowners seek to find a way around it when it comes to home heating and cooling.
But what are your options when your home has no insulation? Do you have options? In today’s blog, let’s discuss heating and cooling uninsulated homes.
The two most common kinds of insulation these days are fiberglass and spray foam insulation. Both of these types of insulation were invented in the 1930s and 40s. Spray foam insulation was first created for military use and became a popular option for home insulation in the 1970s and 80s. Thus, if your home pre-dates the 70s, and certainly if it predates the 40s, it could be without insulation. Of course, some historic homes have been remodeled in order to be given insulation, but not all. You should be able to tell in your home inspection if your home has insulation or not. If not, you may notice signs such as:
When your home lacks insulation, your standard heating and cooling systems may not be enough to truly keep it comfortable throughout the year. Fortunately, there are ways to heat and cool your home and make it more insulated, even without in-wall insulation.
Sometimes even homes with modern insulation can feel drafty or stuffy, depending on the season. This is often the result of thin, drafty windows. You can fix this issue by switching your windows out with more energy efficient windows, such as triple pane windows with non-toxic gas in between panes of glass to slow the flow of air and heat loss. You can also install window film to add a little bit of insulation to the windows, helping to add layers and insulate your windows.
Not all heating and cooling options are central air conditioning and furnaces. In fact, even some modern homes are turning to alternative options in order to lower their HVAC bills and to be more energy efficient. When it comes to cooling, that might be a ductless mini-split heat pump, perfect for the California climate.
This mini-split is thin, minimally obtrusive, and installed into the wall. It uses heat pump technology, so it circulates heat and air rather than simply generating it. It can be in a room that suffers most from the lack of insulation or it can even be installed alongside your ductwork to compliment it. Either way, it’s a great option for homes lacking insulation and hoping to stay comfortable while also saving money.
Heat rises, and your attic can become quite stuffy, especially if you don’t have insulation. It can also make the rest of your home’s heat and cold quite unbearable when your attic is full of hot air. You can help to circulate heat through your home and keep the temperature more even by installing an attic fan. An attic fan will keep the attic from becoming too stuffy, protect your home from drafts and heat, and may even be a boon for your roof.
Certain thermostats can be set up with “zones” that vary the temperature in your home based on the part of the home. For instance, maybe your bedroom needs to be a little cooler, or maybe the living room is draftier than you’d like and needs more heat. Thermostat zones will allow you to customize your heating and cooling to your needs, so you won’t have to crank the heating and cooling in every room…and pay spiked energy bills. Programmable thermostats can also allow you to create a default setting for certain times of year.
Of course, there’s one option that we haven’t discussed until now — which is having insulation installed in your attic and floors. This can be a big project, but there’s no denying your home will feel more comfortable with insulation than without. It can also save you up to 50% on your energy costs. Another issue many homeowners run into is finding an HVAC contractor willing to do insulation installation. Many avoid it as it is a messy, labor-intensive project. You won’t find that at Service Champions.
We offer top notch insulation options from Owens Corning. FIBERCLOUD can help to insulate your attic, while our under-house insulation makes the flooring more comfortable. SILVERSHIELD insulates your home by reflecting the sun’s rays and keeping them from reaching the interior of your attic. We can help you find the insulation option that works best for your home and makes your home more comfortable, with or without these added heating and cooling tips.
Do you have a home that lacks insulation for one way or another? Heating and cooling it in an effective, affordable way are possible…especially with experts like our technicians at Service Champions, the best reviewed HVAC company in Northern California. Contact us today to learn more about the heating and cooling options for your home, or to set up an appointment to install new heating and cooling solutions.