Understanding Your Old Home's Insulation Needs
Connecticut’s full of charm—cobblestone streets, historic districts, and houses that have been standing since before disco was a thing. But if your home was built before the 1970s, there’s a good chance it’s missing something important: modern insulation.
That means higher energy bills, weird temperature swings, and cold floors that make you wonder why you ever left the city.
Let’s talk about why older homes leak energy like a sieve, and what you can do (without wrecking your plaster walls) to make your place way more comfortable—and efficient.
Why Older Homes Weren’t Built for Efficiency
If your house predates bell bottoms, odds are it was built at a time when:
❄️ Energy was Cheap
Nobody worried about heat loss when heating oil was practically free. Insulation just wasn’t part of the plan.
🧱 The Walls Were Solid (Literally)
Plaster, lath, brick—beautiful, but not designed for insulation. Many walls didn’t even have cavities to insulate.
🌬 Drafts Were Considered “Ventilation”
These homes were made to breathe. Trouble is, they still are. And now they’re breathing in cold air and breathing out your hard-earned money.
Signs Your Home’s Insulation Is… Not Great
Here’s how you know your house is under-insulated (or not insulated at all):
- 🔥 Your HVAC never shuts off but you’re still wrapping yourself in a blanket like it’s a cape.
- Cold drafts sneak in around the floors and walls every winter.
- One room’s roasting, another’s freezing—you play thermostat roulette all day.
- You get ice dams like clockwork after every snowfall.
- Your walls feel cold to the touch, even when the heat’s cranking.
- Mold or moisture shows up, especially near exterior walls.
If any of that sounds familiar, it’s time to talk about a retrofit.
The Best Way to Insulate Pre-1970s Homes
You don’t need to gut your house to bring it up to modern standards. You just need the right strategy—and the right crew.
1. Blown-In Cellulose for Walls
Most old homes have empty walls. Blown-in cellulose is the fix, and it doesn’t require tearing down plaster or drywall.
✅ We drill small holes, fill the cavity, and patch them up.
✅ It cuts drafts and bumps your energy efficiency way up.
✅ It’s eco-friendly and pest-resistant—win-win.
At Nealon Insulation, this is our bread and butter. We’ve been dense-packing cellulose into old shoreline homes for nearly 50 years.
2. Attic Insulation: Start Here, Always
Attics are the worst offenders when it comes to heat loss. Hot air rises—if it’s not sealed up top, it’s out the roof.
Best options:
- Blown-in cellulose – Fills every nook, seals air gaps, and performs year-round.
- Fiberglass batts – Cheaper, but you sacrifice air sealing.
🛠 Pro tip: Don’t forget attic baffles. They keep airflow steady and prevent moisture issues. No one wants mold in the rafters.
3. Basement & Crawl Space Insulation
Stone and concrete foundations may look tough, but they do nothing to keep the cold out. And if your floors are freezing, this is probably why.
Smart options:
- Spray foam or rigid foam board on the walls—for moisture control and insulation in one.
- Cellulose or fiberglass in the rim joists—stops major air leaks.
Once we seal up your basement or crawl space, your feet will thank you.
Don’t Let Old Age Be an Excuse
Your house might be 100 years old, but that doesn’t mean you have to live like it’s 1925. With the right insulation (and a crew that respects your home’s history), you can stay warm, save money, and still keep the charm.
Ready to stop heating the neighborhood?
👉 Contact Nealon Insulation for a free consultation. We’ll walk you through the smartest ways to upgrade without gutting your place—and make sure your beautiful old home is built to handle modern New England weather.
At Nealon, we don’t just do insulation. We preserve comfort—without compromising your home’s character.
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