Split level homes are a very common floor plan. Optimizing the space above the garage is a great idea and when built properly these extra rooms are great, but when the proper energy efficiency measures are not taken you are left with rooms that are sweltering in the summer and freezing in the winter. They can definitely be one of those places that make you go “brrrrrrrr.”
Far too often we are called to a home that is having problems with the rooms above their garage being warmer or cooler than the rest of the home. Most of the time the culprit is lack of insulation or insulation that was not properly installed. If your garage is finished a thermal scan would need to be done or a hole would need to be cut in the drywall to identify the current level and effectiveness of insulation.
Insulation that is not secured in place and too big for the floor cavity will begin to sag rendering the insulation ineffective.
Sometimes we find that there are actually supply registers delivering conditioned air into the garage. This is robbing the rooms above of air that could be used to heat or cool them. Garages are not meant to be heated and cooled unless this is a designated work area or a place a significant amount of time is spent. The conditioned air is better spent going to rooms that are used frequently.
There are still rebates available to Missouri residents who have Kansas City Power & Light and Missouri Gas Energy for energy efficiency projects like adding insulation to the floor above the garage. Contact us today to see what you qualify for.
