Crawlspace, Attic & Duct Insulation — #1 in the Northwest for Over 20 Years
Many homes in the Puget Sound area—especially those built before 1990—don’t have enough insulation or have insulation that’s damaged, missing, or improperly installed. Poorly insulated crawlspaces, attics, and air ducts all lose conditioned air the same way, which means higher energy bills, cold floors, and rooms that feel too hot in summer or too cold in winter. Below is a breakdown of the three areas where American Crawl finds the most heat loss and how we fix each one.
Insufficient attic insulation can cost you thousands in heating costs and put undue stress on your heating system. Rooms below a poorly insulated attic tend to feel cold in the winter and hot in the summer.
A quick look in your attic is the easiest way to determine if you need more insulation. If the insulation is level with or below the ceiling joists, you should add more. If you can’t see the joists, measure the depth with a ruler—if you have less than eight to ten inches, it’s time to top it off. Insulation should be distributed evenly with no low or uncovered spots, and all lower attic vents should be baffled to allow proper air circulation.
A properly insulated subfloor reduces energy costs and helps keep your home comfortable year-round. Most Seattle-area homes built before 1990 have insufficient or missing subfloor insulation. A quick visual inspection of your crawlspace can tell you a lot—and cold floors are often a sign of insufficient, damaged, or missing insulation.
We install fiberglass insulation batts in the cavities between floor joists and secure them snugly to the subfloor using twine or lathe. For proper subfloor insulation, we recommend R30 whenever possible; where joist cavities are too shallow, we use the highest R-value that fits to ensure effective performance. Our insulation products are made from recycled glass and sand and are formaldehyde-free, promoting a healthier environment and the safety of your family.
Why it matters: Properly installed subfloor insulation creates a thermal barrier between the subfloor and the living space above, keeping conditioned air where it belongs and reducing reliance on your heating and cooling system. Homeowners can see noticeable energy savings — sometimes 20% or more — while also reducing wear and tear on HVAC equipment and extending its lifespan.
Air ducts distribute heated or cooled air throughout homes with forced-air systems—but according to the U.S. Department of Energy, a typical home loses 20–30% of the air moving through its duct system to leaks, holes, and poorly connected joints. Ducts that leak heated air into unheated spaces like crawlspaces and attics can add hundreds of dollars a year to heating bills.
Duct Sealing: Proper sealing eliminates air loss at the source, cutting energy waste and improving comfort throughout the home.
Duct Insulation: Poorly or un-insulated ducts lose heat through conduction where bare metal contacts the cool air of a crawlspace or attic—the same way an insulated cup keeps a drink hot longer than an uninsulated one. Insulating your ducts keeps the heat where it’s supposed to go: into your home.
Whether it’s your attic, crawlspace, or ductwork, the principle is the same: gaps in insulation let conditioned air escape and force your HVAC system to work harder than it should. Sealing and insulating these areas:
– Reduces heating and cooling costs, sometimes by 20% or more
– Keeps indoor temperatures more consistent year-round
– Reduces strain and wear on your HVAC system, extending its lifespan
– Improves overall home comfort—no more cold floors or overheated rooms
– Supports a smaller carbon footprint through reduced energy use
Depending on your location and the insulation materials used, Pacific Northwest area homeowners may be eligible for energy efficiency incentives, rebates, or tax credits through PSE and PUD. These programs are designed to encourage energy-saving upgrades and can help offset the cost of professional installation.
One of our trained technicians will inspect your attic, crawlspace, and air ducts for proper sealing and insulation and provide you with a clear plan for fixing any issues we find.
Are you a contractor on the hunt for a reliable wholesale supplier? You’ve come to the right place! We offer special terms for contractors and bulk purchasers. We understand the demands of your business and are here to support you in delivering quality and value to your clients. To learn more about our contractor-specific offerings, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re ready to be your dependable partner in delivering warmth, comfort, and energy efficiency to homes everywhere.
