Here's How to Make Your Home's Insulation More Effective
Upgrading the insulation in your home will help keep you more comfortable, lower your utility bills (assuming you don't increase the amount of power you use) and help conserve energy by making it easier to keep the heater and air conditioner at more reasonable temperatures. However, new insulation can be somewhat thwarted by poor conditions in other parts of the house. Insulation will help with the walls and roof, but you can still lose or gain heat in the home through windows, unfinished work areas, and even small gaps.
Remember the Garage
If your home has an attached garage, ensure that it is fully insulated, too. Because garages are often used only as storage areas, they sometimes aren't insulated well, especially in older homes. When you replace your insulation, include the garage as if it were another full living space. If the wall between the garage and the rest of your home was previously insulated, re-insulate that, too, as the huge garage door will fight against energy efficiency when it's open. Insulating that connecting wall helps your home stay comfortable when you have the garage door open.
If the garage is detached and does not have power other than a light, adding more insulation is still a good idea. On an excessively hot day, you're not going to want to enter the garage at all, even to get your car. Insulation can keep it a bit more reasonable inside.
Replace Older Windows
If you have single-glazed windows, replace them as soon as you can with double-glazing. The single panes let noise and heat/cold air leak out easily; it can sometimes make the house feel like no insulation was replaced at all.
If you have very old double-glazing, you may want to consider replacing at least some of them. Of course, have them inspected first because if any are still in great shape, there's no need to replace them. But older double-glazing could have deteriorated around the edges to the point where they aren't insulating as well as they should. If you can't afford new windows at this point, heavy blackout curtains have a smaller but still effective insulating effect.
Change Old Weatherstripping
Seek out and replace old weatherstripping around the front door, any side doors, and even the garage door. No house can be fully airtight (you wouldn't be able to breathe if it were), but fixing the weatherstripping will eliminate big gaps.
Once the new insulation is in, start looking over the rest of your home. Everything you do adds up. Contact a professional to learn more about residential insulation.