7 Ways to Save Money on Insulating Your Home

Winter months hit and you fear the dreaded utility bill that keeps your home warm. These 7 Ways To Save Money On Insulating Your Home will keep that fear away. Proper insulation will help your home stay heated and cooled with less expense out of your pocket. A few simple tricks can provide you with great insulation that will maintain the temperature inside your home.

7 Ways To Save Money On Insulating Your Home

Hang thicker curtains. Mini blinds are a great source to keep light out of your home, but they don't offer much protection from drafts. Hang thick curtains and keep them pulled closed during winter months. This will help keep cold air out and offer an added layer of insulation.

Use area rugs on hard wood floors. Carpeting and rugs do keep your floors warmer and insulated from the cold elements. Inexpensive area rugs can go a long way toward covering floors and helping keep heat in a room.

Get the right R level for your zone. Insulation has various levels of strength labeled as R-values. This is the quality of the insulation and how well it will work for you to keep your home insulated. Check with Energy Star to learn more about R-values and the zone you live in. You will also want to note R-values on the insulation you purchase to know if it will need to be replaced more often.

Seal air leaks before adding insulation. Many people will add extra insulation because existing isn't doing enough to keep warm or cold air in as needed. Before you go the step of upgrading or adding more insulation to your home, take the time to check for air leaks as well as add updated or new duct work to your heating and cooling unit. A $50 air leak fix is much less expensive than $500 in insulation that may not have been needed.

Choose the recycled materials insulation first. Depending on the company and brand, insulation made with recycled materials like paper products or blue jeans can be much less expensive. You may also want to determine if what is already existing in your home needs to be replaced or is still in good condition. Sometimes an additional lighter layer or extra in select parts of your home is all you need.

Ask your utility company for kick backs. Many utility companies will actually give you a credit for upgrading your insulation in your home. Contact your local electric provider to find out if they offer credits, or if there are any special grants that would pay for an upgrade for you.

Take advantage of federal tax credits. Check each year to see if upgrades making your home more energy efficient are eligible for a tax credit. Often the savings on insulating your home isn't on the up front cost, but later down the road when you get a tax credit. Ask your accountant prior to doing upgrades to make sure your choice would qualify for the latest credit.

These ways to save money on insulating your home are more about understanding your needs and less about up front savings. Make wise choices as you work to upgrade and become more energy efficient and you will have amazing long term financial benefits.