Quick! Insulate Your Basement Crawl Space

Worried about the temperature in your basement crawl space? Its best to insulate your basement crawl space before there's a problem. Did you know that up to a third of your home's heat is lost through the basement of your home? Think about how much thinner your energy bill will be if you simply invest a few dollars in insulating your basement crawl space. Over the years that you own your home, you can pocket thousands of dollars if you just do a little pre planning and prevent the problem before it starts.

When insulating your basement crawl space, you should focus on the exterior walls as opposed to the bottom and topside. You actually want to avoid the top and bottom sides if heating ducts or pipes are in the vicinity.

Before proceeding with installation you want to make sure that you are protected. Put on a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, goggles and a dust mask to protect yourself from free flying fibers.

If you are tackling this problem before moisture levels have become a problem, you can use unfaced fiberglass batt insulation. This insulation can be purchased at most home improvement stores and the dimensions are generally somewhere around3.5 in x 23.25in x 93in (or 48" or 96"), and come 16 batts to a bag (or more or less depending on the manufacturer).

The price varies greatly depending on the manufacturer, and the amount of batting included in a package. For example, Owens Corning W79 Fiberglass Insulation is around $80 per package which contains 11 batts and is 9.5"x15"x48". It may sound pricey, but having a professional insulate your basement crawl space is much more expensive.

Cut your batts so that they extend from the mudsill (the board that's directly on top of the concrete wall), down the length of the wall and overlap with the floor about 2 feet or so.

After you've measured enough fiberglass to run the length of your crawl space, secure them with 2x2 cleats. On the top side of your basement crawl space's wall, place the cleat as close to the top board as possible and allow some of the fiberglass (about a quarter inch) to peek over the top. Then, drive the nails through.

Before securing the bottom, weight the insulation down (with bricks or books or anything handy) so that it will remain in place. Then repeat the process with your cleats at the wall joint. Once your basement crawl space is properly insulated, be sure to check the rest of your home for properly installed insulation and save even more money on your energy bill.