If your floors feel cold, your kitchen never warms up, or there’s a musty smell you can’t quite explain, the problem likely isn’t your furnace.
It’s coming from below.
This insight comes directly from a recent Hire It Done episode with Tom Mackey of Dana Insulation, focused on energy-saving insulation. One of the most overlooked issues discussed was how crawl spaces and basement rim joists quietly drain heat and comfort from Southeast Michigan homes.
You don’t see the problem every day, but you feel it—especially in winter. And you pay for it every month.
Cold Floors Usually Start Below You
When homeowners think about insulation, they think about attics. That makes sense. Heat rises, and attics matter.
But crawl spaces and basement rim joists play a much bigger role in comfort than most people realize.
Cold air settles low. When your crawl space or basement isn’t insulated or sealed properly, that cold air seeps upward. Floors become icy. Rooms above feel uncomfortable no matter how high you turn the thermostat.
During the Hire It Done episode, this exact scenario was described repeatedly—especially in homes where kitchens or family rooms sit above crawl spaces.
The Musty Smell Isn’t Just a Smell
A damp or mildew-like odor in your home is a warning sign, not an inconvenience.
According to the episode, most crawl spaces lack a proper vapor barrier. Bare earth releases moisture continuously. That moisture rises into your home, affecting air quality, comfort, and even long-term structural health.
As explained by Tom Mackey of Dana Insulation, the fix is straightforward but must be done correctly.
A properly installed vapor barrier:
- Covers the crawl space floor completely
- Wraps up foundation walls
- Is sealed in place using closed-cell spray foam
- Prevents moisture migration permanently
Once installed, that musty smell disappears—not temporarily, but for good.
Crawl Spaces Should Be Conditioned Spaces
This is where many homeowners get confused.
The instinct is to keep crawl spaces cold and sealed off. In reality, a properly insulated crawl space should become a conditioned part of your home.
During the episode, it’s explained that when insulation and vapor barriers are installed correctly, outside air infiltration is eliminated. That allows warmth from the home to gently circulate into the crawl space.
The result:
- Warmer crawl space
- Warmer floors above
- More stable indoor temperatures
This is especially important in homes where kitchens, family rooms, or additions sit over crawl spaces—areas that are often the coldest in winter.
Rim Joists Are Small but Powerful
Basement rim joists are another major source of heat loss.
Rim joists sit at the top of foundation walls, where the house framing meets the concrete. This area is notoriously leaky in older homes.
Cold air enters. Warm air escapes. And your heating system works overtime trying to keep up.
The episode highlights that insulating rim joists with closed-cell spray foam creates an airtight seal that:
- Stops air leakage
- Reduces drafts throughout the home
- Improves comfort on the main floor
- Increases overall energy efficiency
It’s a relatively small area, but its impact is outsized.
Why Kitchens and Family Rooms Feel the Coldest
If one room in your home is always colder than the rest, there’s usually a reason.
In the Hire It Done episode, an example was shared of a home where the kitchen and adjoining family room stayed cold all winter. The cause wasn’t the windows or furnace—it was the crawl space below.
Once the crawl space received:
- A sealed vapor barrier
- Proper insulation
- Controlled airflow
The temperature difference disappeared.
This is a common story in Southeast Michigan homes, especially those with additions built years after the original structure.
Basement Insulation Completes the System
Crawl spaces and basements don’t exist in isolation. They’re part of your home’s entire thermal system.
Insulating basement walls and rim joists:
- Reduces heat loss through concrete
- Helps maintain consistent temperatures
- Improves comfort on upper floors
- Lowers overall heating costs
As discussed in the episode, insulation works best when approached strategically—not piecemeal. That’s why experienced contractors evaluate the attic, basement, and crawl space together.
Energy Savings You Can Measure
Homeowners often ask if crawl space and basement insulation really saves money.
The answer from the episode is clear: yes.
With proper insulation upgrades, homeowners typically see energy savings of around 20%. For a household spending $400–$500 per month on heating, that translates to roughly $80–$100 saved every month.
And unlike some upgrades, these savings don’t fade over time. They continue year after year.
When you factor in:
- Utility rebates
- Reduced furnace runtime
- Increased comfort
The return on investment becomes hard to ignore.
Why Experience Matters Below the House
Crawl spaces and basements aren’t glamorous places to work. That’s why shortcuts are common—and costly.
Improper vapor barrier installation, poorly sealed insulation, or incorrect airflow can make problems worse instead of better.
This is where experience matters.
Dana Insulation has served Metro Detroit and surrounding areas since 1977. Their approach, as highlighted in the Hire It Done episode, focuses on:
- Correct materials for each application
- Proper sealing and airflow control
- Long-term solutions, not temporary fixes
It’s the difference between insulation that lasts decades and insulation that fails quietly.
What to Expect During an Evaluation
A proper crawl space or basement insulation evaluation starts with questions, not sales pressure.
As explained in the episode, a good contractor will ask:
- How long you’ve lived in the home
- Which rooms feel uncomfortable
- What your energy goals are
- How long you plan to stay
From there, they create a roadmap—not a one-size-fits-all pitch.
That’s the Hire It Done standard: solution-minded professionals who explain the “why,” not just the price.
The Bottom Line on Crawl Space Insulation
Crawl spaces and basement rim joists don’t get much attention—but they have a massive impact on comfort, air quality, and energy costs.
When these areas are ignored:
- Floors stay cold
- Rooms feel drafty
- Energy bills climb
- Musty odors linger
When they’re insulated correctly:
- Comfort improves immediately
- Energy costs drop
- Moisture problems disappear
- Your home feels balanced again
That’s why this topic earned its place in a recent Hire It Done episode—and why it deserves serious consideration if you want real, lasting improvements in your home.
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