PROTECT YOUR HOME WITH INSULATION
Homeowners often wonder if they need to insulate their crawl space if they have already installed encapsulation. Trust CNT Foundations when we tell you that you need to insulate your crawl space. Call our Charleston crawl space insulation and thermal barrier installation experts today for a free assessment.
Some foundation repair organizations will tell you that you don't have to "waste money" on insulation, but they are just lying to you to motivate you to buy their products. Your crawl space needs insulation and encapsulation together since science works in two different ways; let’s analyze them now.
INSULATION VS. ENCAPSULATION
Consider it this way: insulation attempts to control temperature while encapsulation attempts to control moisture. Building code says that you should have insulation in your home to make a thermal barrier between your home and your crawl space. This barrier keeps hot air in your home in the winter and cool air in your home in the summer.
Without insulation, your unregulated crawl space would suck up the entirety of your warm and cool air and cause your electric bill to soar. Encapsulation keeps humidity from getting into your crawl space and causing mold and mildew. Moisture can come up from the ground through your home's foundation or come from condensation caused by your home's A/C duct work. Pairing encapsulation with a dehumidifier is the most ideal approach to tackle issues caused by humidity and keep moisture from invading your crawl space. You need to have the two cooperating in your crawl space for the best outcome. Remember that humidity and moisture will adversely influence your crawl space, but it doesn't influence your home's temperature – that is a different issue. Insulation is the answer for your temperature problems. It makes a thermal barrier that prevent heat sink.
WHAT IS A THERMAL BARRIER?
The air in your crawl space is different and has a different temperature than the air in your home. If you don't have protection between your floor and crawl space, your HVAC will work twice as hard to regulate the air in the two spaces, rather than just in your house. Heat sink happens when the hot air from your home sinks into your crawl space and your HVAC futilely tries to keep the air balanced in each space. Insulating the main floor of your home or the roof of your crawl space makes a thermal barrier for the hot air in the winter, or the cool air in the summer. Finally, your HVAC won't attempt to pointlessly warm or cool your crawl space.
As Charleston crawl space insulation and thermal barrier installation specialists, the team of CNT carefully follows the International Resident Code, The International Building Code, and the International Energy Code. Every one of these codes are specific about your home’s development and the building prerequisites that have been intended to make your building energy efficient. These regulations are not optional. Ignoring the building code is certain sign of an inexperienced contractor. Keep away from slick salesmen. Call CNT Foundations at 877-958-9150 today to talk with our team of professional Charleston crawl space insulation and thermal barrier installation professionals. We have the construction background and capacity to do what's best for your home, you, and your family.