Adding Insulation to Existing Walls? Everything You Need to Know
Are certain rooms in your house freezing cold in the winter? It might be because you don’t have enough exterior wall insulation.
Without good insulation, heat will seep right through your walls, leading to cold rooms and expensive heating costs.
If that sounds like your house, keep reading. We cover everything you need to know about adding insulation to existing walls for a warmer, more comfortable home and lower energy costs.
Signs You Need More Wall Insulation
If you’re not sure your house needs more wall insulation, look out for these signs:
Rooms with exterior-facing walls are colder than rooms without them
Exterior walls in your house feel cold to the touch
Pipes running through your exterior walls are freezing
Your heating costs are higher than they should be
Your house was built before 1970
But keep in mind that your house is a system with many connected pieces. Sometimes, what looks like a problem with your wall insulation is actually being caused by a lack of attic insulation or crawl space insulation.
At Sustainergy Cooperative, we look at your whole house from top to bottom to find the root cause of your comfort and energy efficiency concerns so you don’t end up wasting money on the wrong upgrades.
How to Add Insulation to Existing Walls
There are two ways to add insulation to existing walls.
1. Strip to the Studs & Insulate Open Walls
This option involves removing drywall so the wall cavities are fully open. It’s messy and more expensive, but it’s the only way to add spray foam insulation to existing walls, and it’s also required if you need to remove wet or rodent-infested insulation. In most cases, however, it’s not necessary. We can usually just blow insulation in through small openings.
2. Blow Insulation Into Existing Walls
If you want to add insulation to your walls without tearing them down, dense-packed insulation is the best option.
Here’s what our process looks like:
Drill Openings – We remove a section of vinyl siding (or drill from inside if needed) and create small access holes.
Install Insulation – A hose is inserted into each opening to dense-pack insulation into the wall cavity.
Close Up – We patch the openings and reinstall siding if it was removed.
What’s the Best Insulation for Exterior Walls?
There are many types of insulation you can add to your existing walls. At Sustainergy Cooperative, we typically recommend dense-pack cellulose insulation.
Dense Pack Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation is an eco-friendly material made from recycled paper that’s been treated to resist fire and pests. It can be dense-packed into existing walls, creating a strong thermal barrier that also seals against air infiltration.
Need More Wall Insulation? Start with a Free Assessment
Insulation is your home’s best defense against heat loss. With good insulation in the walls, attic, and crawl space, your house will be more comfortable and you’ll spend less on heating and cooling costs.
At Sustainergy Cooperative, we make it easy to add insulation to old houses and new builds in the Greater Cincinnati area. We provide free assessments to determine where your house needs better insulation and will help you prioritize upgrades that will make the biggest difference in your comfort and energy costs.
We’re a local, worker-owned company that is committed to providing exceptional service from start to finish.
