You might have the best heating system money could buy, and yet still be wasting energy every month. Every Alaskan home needs proper insulation, and more importantly, it needs the right kind. To give you a better idea of which types work best with which part of your home, Alaska Quality Insulators in North Pole, AK, has put together a helpful guide.

Here are a few tips for choosing the best kind of insulation for your home:

• Seal Up Small Leaks: Doors and windows might be the most common draft sources, but they aren't the only ones. Smaller places, which often go by the wayside, include around electrical outlets, places where pipes go through the wall, and even ceiling light fixtures. These areas might seem insignificant, but they add up. Depending on their size and location, Alaska Quality Insulators will seal these areas up with spray foam (urethane insulation).

• Install Crawlspace & Attic Insulation: Houses should be fully sealed and insulated, but if you had to choose which to insulate first — your walls or your attic — choose the attic. The most popular attic insulation types are usually blown-in fiberglass or blown-in cellulose insulation, which is fast to install and very effective. Not only will it keep heat from escaping, but it will also prevent ice dam formation if installed correctly.

• Replace Wall Insulation: If your home is a few decades old and you haven't changed the insulation yet, it's worth taking a look — because what you have in those walls might disappoint you. Old insulation can be rendered completely ineffective due to water damage, or get chewed through by rodents. Particularly old homes could even be “insulated” with old newspapers or wood shavings. Call in Alaska Quality Insulators and they'll install something that's actually effective, such as fiberglass batt or blown-in blanket insulation.

Alaska Quality Insulators has insulating North Pole homes since 1977. To request a house insulation quote, call (907) 488-3832 or visit their website for more information. It may be spring, but quality insulation keeps homes comfortable year-round, so it's never too late to call!