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Three signs that you need crawl space insulation are drafts, high energy bills, and mold. Drafts can start in crawl spaces and cause hot or cold air to spread to the rest of your home through holes in the floors and walls. And even if your entire home is well-insulated, you can still feel an unchecked draft from your crawl space and in your utility bill. Uninsulated crawl spaces can let in air and moisture, and because they’re built directly on the ground and difficult to dry out, they are hotspots for mold and mildew.

If you have access to the foundation walls, adding spray foam insulation to your existing unfinished basement or crawl space is straightforward. Replacing existing insulation in your unfinished attic space is possible after removing the old insulation. However, spray foam insulating an existing wall after the drywall is in place isn’t possible unless you remove most of the drywall.

While adding insulation can be beneficial, there is too much of a good thing. Too much insulation can seal your house to the point where it can't release moisture that enters it—essentially trapping water vapor inside. Warm, humid climates are extra susceptible to mold from moisture issues, but homes in colder climates can experience condensation from an air-tight home when freezing temperatures thaw.

The costs range from $1.50 to $4.00 per square foot, depending on the type of insulation, labor, and home size.