So I've posted on here several times with questions about this or that, but every time I go to start on one project, I'm finding a new one that needs done first.

The latest started out as a simple wifi problem in the house. So I decide I'm going to snake a cat5 cable into the basement, slap up wall plates, and we're done. 20 minute project. Well I punch my hole in the wall and decided to send a glow rod into the wall to probe for existing holes in the sill(think thats the name?) on an exterior wall since there was already existing cabling there. I sent about 10 ft of glow rod in, and go into the basement and theres nothing there. So being puzzled I do the logical thing, I check to see what pipes are coming in from outside to use as a reference, then I go outside to see where those pipes are at, and low and behold all 10ft of glow rod is laying in my yard.

Conclusion: The construction of my house is in order from inside to out; drywall, studs, insulation board of some thin type, and siding. Notice there is no plywood or insulation mentioned in there other than the thin board that was easily poked through. This also answered why my gas bill is about 500/month in the winters.

So here's what I've been researching thus far. It appears the cheapest option for me at this point, although still not very cheap, is to rent a blow in insulation deal and poke holes between each stud space and blow in insulation all around the exterior of the house. Sound about right?

But when I do this, I'm going to have hose sized holes all over the house, 2 on each stud space, one at waist high, and one up towards the ceiling. I'm assuming this is going to look like crap when I go to patch all those holes back up. Any thoughts?

 

I have never actually blown in insulation, but I deal with those who do and a word of caution, it doesn't sound like your exterior wall will contain the insulation. Stories I have heard are about being careful not to blow the drywall right off the studs. Up here we use cellulose most of the time so perhaps blown-in fiberglass might be less of a concern.

Properly done those holes can be patched and not a problem. However, call for some quotes as often the insulation contractors can do a job for about the same as you. Worth a few calls.

Is this a one or two story house? How old? Any old knob and tube wiring? Standard platform construction or balloon framing?

Also, when there is no sheathing to add strength to the structure, they may have added diagonal bracing which means the blown in insulation needs to go above abd below those braces.

luck
Bud

 

Ugggh.. Sounds like this one might be best left to a "professional" or at least someone with more experience and insurance in case they screw it up. It's a cape cod style house about 14 years old. The wiring is all recent I think. None of the older stuff that you mention.

 

If it is 14 years old it is already fully insulated. You might even find the original building plans on file at your town office.

Now, as for why you are getting those $500 gas bills, there are still things to check, number one is air leakage. But that's another project and the pressure is off for now with summer close by. Let us know when you want to address it.

The insulation you currently have may not be the best, but it leaves no room to add more in the walls. I'm assuming your home was built following the building codes at the time.

Bud