Reduce Energy Bills
Cobb EMC says properly insulating your home can lead to significant energy savings. When buying new homes, most people do not think to ask if their new home needs additional insulation. There are many different places in which insulating and sealing air leaks gets overlooked or ignored when building a new home.
Cobb EMC contends that if you have adequate insulation, you could save enough energy in one year to pay for the cost of adding insulation and sealing air leaks.
Electrical Outlets
Air leaks can occur through electrical outlets in the perimeter walls. Most hardware stores sell gaskets that are designed to fit under the cover plate for duplex outlets and light switches and prevent air leaks. If there are cracks around the outlet and the wall, use caulking or plumber putty to seal them.
Scuttle Hole
The scuttle hole is the hole that leads to the attic and often times is not insulated. To insulate this hole, door or window, weather-stripping material can be used to make a good seal around the opening and/or cover. Once the opening is sealed, make sure to staple the insulation on the back cover, and drape it over the opening on the attic side.
Basement Windows and Doors
The windows and doors of home basements are most often the worst sealed and insulated. Caulking inside and out will prevent air leaks and adding weather-stripping is also a good idea.
Materials
Latex caulk
Plumbers putty (sealing cracks)
Expandable foam (fill large cracks and openings)
Fiberglass insulation (fits between joints/studs)