- 1). Insulate the walls. The most difficult job in insulating a brick house is to add insulation to the walls. Siding may be removed on wood houses to apply insulation but this technique damages the exterior on a brick structure. Two alternatives are available for exterior insulation. If the brick structure has large mortar areas, insulation may be pumped in through holes drilled in the mortar. The holes may be patched after the procedure is complete. If this is not possible, pumping loose insulation through interior walls may be an option. Remove the baseboards from interior rooms and drill holes to insert the insulation through the lower wall. Once the process is done, patch the holes and cover them with the baseboards. Inserting loose insulation may be done by hiring a firm that specializes in this process or renting equipment for the homeowner to complete the job.
- 2). Prepare the attic. The attic must "breathe" for the home to be healthy. This means that the air must be able to move through the side walls in the attic. Before insulating the attic, insert baffles between the wall joists up to the roof to allow the air to vent. This will provide a route for the air to escape. Baffles may be constructed of heavy cardboard or purchased from a home improvement store or local heating and cooling company. If the attic floor has insulation in place, measure the depth and check for baffles. Insulation may be rolled over the present layer to add additional climate protection. If the attic is used for storage, place a piece of plywood on top of the batting so the loft is not flattened with foot traffic. The roof of the attic should also have insulation between the boards. Insert batting tightly to the boards but don't force or pack the insulation. Tack nails on the boards and make a zigzag patterned enclosure with wire to keep the insulation from falling into the attic. If chicken wire is available, this works well and takes less time to install. Tack the wire to the wood slats. Use a sealer or add grout to fill any cracks in the bricks in the attic.
- 3). Insulate the attic. Consult the US Department of Energy Insulation Fact Sheet to determine the optimum amount of additional insulation that will need to be added. Measure the width of the wall studs and purchase insulation in rolls. Most insulation is sold in standard sizes. If the local store doesn't offer a size that matches your width measurements, ask for the possibility of a special order. If the home is custom built and the sizes do not match with common insulation, each piece of insulation must be hand cut to fit the spaces.
- 4). Seal the walls of the basement to ensure that there aren't any cracks or openings. Apply small boards, called furring strips, to the basement walls. These are attached with a nail gun or with glue. If nails are used, seal the openings. Rigid foam wall insulation is then attached to the wood strips. Once the pieces are in place, apply a thin piece of insulation plastic over the top, much like wrapping a present. It is easily cut to fit with a box cutter. Attach the plastic in place with a tack gun and seal the small openings.
- 5). Add weather strips to all windows and doors. Many sash windows may be restored by cleaning and filling openings with a can of insulation fill. Apply metal or plastic strips to the top and bottom of doors that leak air to the outside. These are available in many sizes, but a small hacksaw may be needed to fit pieces to custom doors.
- 6). Seal a large garage door between wooden slats. Foam insulation works well or insulation with a vapor barrier backing may be applied to both metal and wood doors. Check for prices on insulated garage doors since a new door may be less expensive to install than applying insulation to the old door. Insulate the walls of the garage in the same manner as the attic roof. Vapor barrier backed insulation should be used on the walls, making sure that the paper barrier faces out and into the garage The backing on this insulation is easily tacked to the wood studs with a tack or nail gun. Seal the openings with caulk or synthetic sealer.
- 7). Seal any openings around hose spigots or vents, making sure that the caulk or fill matches the masonry or mortar. Some exterior windows are more efficient if used in conjunction with storm windows. Consider adding storm doors to openings used frequently during extreme heat or cold.