As property owners in the northern U.S. are well aware, the winter months cause a significant strain on residential and commercial buildings. Energy bills rise as building managers need to raise the thermostat to maintain a comfortable temperature. Any cold air that makes its way in due to insubstantial insulation will continue to drive up your energy costs and lead to major issues like frozen pipes and mold over time. In order to maintain your buildings in the long term, winterizing with insulation is essential.
If fall has passed and you haven’t started winterizing yet, don’t worry! It’s never too late to improve your insulation. No matter when you apply new insulation, the energy savings will be immediate. More effective insulation will also benefit you in the warmer months; spray foam insulation prevents hot air from leaking in during summer, which lowers your air cooling costs.
The clear solution to safeguarding your properties against winter weather is proper insulation. In this blog, we will explain why winterizing is so valuable and show you the simple steps you can take to ensure your spaces are adequately protected with VersiFoam® spray foam insulation kits.
Why is Winterizing houses and buildings important?
According to Energy Star, “air leakage accounts for
between 25 percent and 40 percent of the energy used for heating and cooling in a typical residence.” One of the most effective solutions you can make is to apply spray foam insulation in areas that are vulnerable to cold air drafts. Creating an air seal with a VersiFoam® spray foam insulation kit will protect your property from outside air, saving you money on energy costs and on frozen pipe and other moisture-related damage for years to come.
What are the advantages of winterizing with spray foam insulation?
There are many reasons why spray foam insulation is the best choice for creating an airtight seal for your house or building:
- More coverage: Spray foam insulation expands to fill every crack and crevice, so you can be sure that no air gaps will be left after you apply – the same cannot be said for other kinds of insulation.
- Greater Effectiveness: VersiFoam® closed cell spray foam delivers a 6.4 R-value (or 6.5 for our flame retardant formula). This provides a much better resistance to air flow than loose-fill fiberglass insulation with a 2.2–2.7 R-value, batt fiberglass insulation with a 3.1–4.3 R-value, and cellulose insulation with a 3.2–3.8 R-value.
- Better durability: Fiberglass and cellulose insulation lose their shape and begin to deteriorate as quickly as 15 years post-application, and this deterioration accelerates when exposed to moisture. Spray foam insulation lasts for at least 30 years and is impermeable to moisture.
How do I winterize my properties with spray foam insulation kits?
Not sure how to best utilize our spray foam insulation kits? Check out our blog all about picking the perfect VersiFoam® kit for your needs and how to apply for best results. For application tips, watch our how-to videos.
Once you’re ready to apply your spray foam insulation, make sure to examine these areas that most often need cold weather protection:
Doors and windows
Does the air feel colder around your door fames and windows than it does in the rest of the room? Very often, outside air works its way in through gaps between your frame and the door or window.
Attics
Heat rises. Make sure you inspect your attic to ensure it’s not leaking any heat out. Insignificant attic insulation causes heat to dissipate out in uneven spots, which leads to the formation of ice dams. While you’re inspecting, make sure to also check for any holes, deteriorating insulation, and open spaces around chimneys, exhaust fans, and plumbing installations – all of these usher in cold air, and all of these can be filled in with a spray foam insulation kit.
Cathedral ceilings
Rooms with cathedral ceilings often feel drafty during the colder months as heat rises to the top of the room. Insulating the area between the roof deck and the rafter will create a more comfortable environment.
Basements and crawl spaces
Do your basement floors feel cold during winter? That’s a common sign that your basement is not adequately insulated. To fix this, look at the area where the walls meet the foundation. Cracks often form here as the building settles. Then, inspect the openings where the electrical, plumbing, and heating services enter the building. If you see any openings, you can easily fill them in with a VersiFoam® spray foam insulation kit.
HVAC systems
HVAC and duct systems have many points of contact with walls and ceilings, which puts them at risk of air leaks. Applying spray foam insulation around these tight places is a quick fix.
Winterizing with VersiFoam® spray foam insulation kits
Whether you are winterizing a house or looking for metal building insulation, VersiFoam® spray foam insulation kits are proven to be the most effective and simplest solution on the market. Our professional-grade formulas are trusted by the pros – but they’re still so easy to use and offer a foam dispense rate so controlled that you can write your name with it. Start winterizing your properties today and find a VersiFoam® dealer near you.
