When the power goes out in freezing temperatures, your home’s insulation truly gets put to the test. Recently, a family in central Kentucky experienced just that in their 1900-square-foot barndominium, insulated with spray foam. Here’s how their home’s design held up and what they learned in the process. Recently Brandon Myles Yocum posted in Spray Foam World Wide and we just had to share his post via a blog.
The Setup
This barndominium sits on a hill with no windbreaks, leaving it exposed to harsh winter conditions. Its insulation system consists of:
- 2×6 walls with perlins: 2 inches of closed-cell spray foam, with the remaining wall cavity filled with open-cell foam.
- 2×8 roof with perlins: Similarly insulated with 2 inches of closed-cell foam and the rest filled with open-cell foam.
- Under the slab: 2.5 inches of closed-cell foam with ICF stem walls. The ICF extends 4 inches up to cover the slab’s exterior.
While the home was well-insulated, the in-floor heating system wasn’t hooked up yet, meaning there was no active heat source during this outage.
The Challenge
With temperatures dipping into the teens, the indoor thermometer registered as low as 25°F. Without electricity for nearly 20 hours, maintaining a livable environment became a top priority.
The Temporary Fix
To address this, the family turned to a small portable generator. They prioritized essentials:
- Plugging in the refrigerator and microwave.
- Avoiding the use of heaters to conserve power.
By running the fridge, they noticed a slight temperature increase in the kitchen, proving how small efforts can make a difference in maintaining warmth in critical areas of the home.
What’s Next?
Temperatures are expected to drop into the single digits soon, with power restoration still two days away. This family is staying prepared by monitoring the indoor temperature and focusing on critical needs.
Lessons Learned
This experience underscores the importance of insulation in extreme conditions. Spray foam insulation proved its value by slowing the temperature drop and preserving some level of warmth, even without an active heat source. For homeowners considering energy-efficient solutions, this example showcases how investing in high-quality insulation can make a significant difference during emergencies.