Home insulation question

[jmetsrule]

My wife and I just bought a home built in 1952. We live in Albany, NY. Therefore, we can have really cold winters and some decently hot, humid days in the summer.

There is no insulation in the walls and no insulation in the attic.

We had new, energy efficient windows installed in the house when we moved in. We also had the roof and soffit vents done for better airflow in the attic.

We're thinking about having a professional come and do the insulation in the attic.

Here's my question:

Let's say we insulate the attic up to the recommended r-value for our area, which is 49. If we don't catch every little air leak, is this pretty much a waste of money? Do you get any benefit from installing insulation if you still have leaks throughout the house?

[disneysteve]

If we don't catch every little air leak, is this pretty much a waste of money? Do you get any benefit from installing insulation if you still have leaks throughout the house?

Absolutely! Your house will never be 100% air tight but everything you do to make it more energy efficient makes a difference and lowers your heating and cooling costs.

[snafu]

I too live in a very cold, winter predominate region. It's typical to have a well reputed Energuide company audit/evaluate an older house, prior to offer to purchase. It's likely cost effective to have your older home appraised for energy efficiency as you likely use AC in summer and winter heating costs. The process will identify how many years you will need to live in the home to reach 'payback.'

Meanwhile check your attic for current insulation factor to compare with code, garage & entry doors for leakage, add foam insulators to all electric outlets and switches for outside facing walls, hooks ups for plumbing, DW, outdoor dryer vent, fireplace roof vent and energy insert. You can have foam added in outside walls with small amount of follow up repair work. How old is the current furnace, what is it's energy factor?

There are a lot of DIY, short term projects you can do to lower heating costs. Keep the temperature lower, wear a toque, sweater and warm [wool] socks. Hang quilts as 'decor on outside walls above sofa for example. Create a 'vestibule' at primary entry, hang a quilt on a rod to keep cold air out. Add lining to drapes to keep out cold night winds. Open drapes on south side to capture as much heat of sun as possible, close at sunset. Work out cost differential to operating fireplace for added heating, space heater that easily transfers to room in use. If there are rooms not in use, turn off heat vent, keep door shut.

You Tube is a huge source of information on home care.
INSULATING YOUR HOUSE: A DIY Guide eBook: Andy McCrea ...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/INSULATING-...ok/.../B00APDR...
INSULATING YOUR HOUSE: A DIY Guide eBook: Andy McCrea: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store. ... Unlike print books, digital books are subject to VAT.

[scfr]

Let's say we insulate the attic up to the recommended r-value for our area, which is 49. If we don't catch every little air leak, is this pretty much a waste of money? Do you get any benefit from installing insulation if you still have leaks throughout the house?

Yes, you would still get benefits. If your front door is not perfectly air-tight, it's still better to close it than to leave it standing wide open. If you have a tire that has a slow leak, it's still better to keep driving on that tire until you can get it patched or replaced (or even keep adding air) than to take it off and drive on only 3 tires. If you cut yourself and are bleeding, it's better to put some gauze and pressure on it to stop most of the bleeding even if you can't stop all of it.

[rob62521]

It's been awhile since you started this thread, but hope you are going to insulate. We had an energy audit on our house about 3 years ago and they said our insulation really needed to be added to. We had three different companies come out and give us bids and we did have them do the insulation. Our power bills have dropped quite a bit. We have hardwood and laminate in most of the house and I have noticed in the winter the floors don't feel as cold. We have a crawl space and they put insulation in the ceiling of it.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Trust me from experience it's better to have something than no insulation.

[Fishindude77]

Trust me from experience it's better to have something than no insulation.

This !!
Every little thing you do will help and typically insulating is a pretty good payback compared to something such as upgrading to a higher efficiency furnace.

[bjl584]

Just don't over insulate.
A contractor friend of mine told me that on remodel jobs he has found attics and other areas stuffed full of insulation. Fiberglass insulation needs to be able to breathe. If you mash it down and stuff it full into spaces you eliminate air flow and the R-Value can be compromised.