Before you head to the home store or call a contractor, you’ll need to measure the amount of existing insulation. To find out, you'll need a flashlight, a ruler, a screwdriver and maybe a ladder.
The first stop is the attic. Measure the depth of the insulation on your attic floor.
To check sidewall insulation, remove the cover plate from an electrical outlet or light switch on an exterior wall [be sure to shut off power at the service panel first], and use the flashlight to check for insulation behind the metal box.
If you can't see behind the box, remove a baseboard in a hidden area, such as a closet - you might see insulation poking out the bottom.
Go to your basement and check the rim joist - the long, thick board that sits on top of the concrete foundation. You might see insulation in the pockets between each floor joist.
If you have a finished basement, remove an outlet cover to check for foundation insulation - here it may be thick foam sheets instead of fiberglass. |
