Air sealing and insulation are the two biggest things you can do to globally improve the efficiency of the home.
There are several articles on this application and I have yet to be in a home that didn't need it.
Tightening up the envelope across the attic surface will lessen air infiltration at all the other areas of the home.
Verify that all window and door seals/weatherstriping is in good shape.
Check to be sure doors and windows are caulked properly (no gaps, cracks or missing).
If you have an attic access, treat it like door opening and seal properly. If possible, create an insulated cover to go over it in the attic.
Check HVAC ductwork for leaks and seal with foil tape or mastic.
Wrap your hot water heater in a blanket.
If you use a black light you can target the urine areas soak in white vinegar leave for ten min wet vacuum as much up as you can mix up a cup of water with a quarter size dawn dish detergant put in spray bottle saturate area but don't soak. Sprinkle baking soda around on the wet area spread likghtly. let sit until everything dries hard this could take up to a day. break up the crusted area with finger tips when dry then vacuum up. it is a bit time consuming but it is all natural and it works like nothing else!
Depending on the application, spray foam is oftentimes preferable. Closed cell spray foam, applied properly, can also help reduce or eliminate the growth of mold, as long as it doesn't exist already. Spray foam is typically more costly, but has many benefits to include an excellent R value.
Cat smell or cat urine smell?
If it is the latter, I have had success with Nature's Miracle. If the smell is just the animal, that will diminsh with time and with changing out blinds, flooring, wall coverings, etc.
Samantha,
Typicaly most repairs are noticable and replacement it best. If you simply need to cove the hole and this is a typical way you keep puppy indoors, you may consider purchasing a piece of metal to cover the hole and prevent more damage. Home Depot #800537 is a quick idea.
Are your heating & cooling bills going through the roof? Did you know that up to 40% of a home’s conditioned air escapes through the attic? Adding attic insulation is the most effective thing you can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
I would recommend starting with making sure all the existing windows and securely closed and locked. I find windows partly open because they have been painted that way. Take some time to make sure each window closes properly add weather stripping as needed.
Add wather stripping to all doors
check that all the heating ducts are connected securely
All of the answers given were great options. There are many, many ways to improve a home's energy efficiency. As we are a siding and window company, my focus will be on those areas. Windows are a huge energy loss/gain. Did you know that windows and doors account for approximately 50% of your heating/cooling loss? Air leaks around a window or door due to a crack of 1/16" of an inch is like having a hole in your wall the size of a brick. In the average home, that is equal to about 15 bricks. Consider how large that "hole" is in your home. The glass package is the most important thing to consider when replacing windows. Most folks just look at the cost of the window and install, and some smoke and mirrors some companies like to drag on about. A smart homeowner knows what Low-E is, what a good U-Factor rating is, whether or not it's single, double or triple pane glass, etc. etc. Same features apply to most doors. Lastly, siding is another area where a homeowner can save money. Check into insulated siding. Check to see what kind of underlayment is being applied to your home. Many companies don't even put a housewrap on to save cost and the average homeowner never knows. Make sure you only hire someone who is appropriately licensed and insured. Ask to see those documents. Hope this helps folks looking to replace siding, windows or doors! Happy remodeling!
You mentioned this room being over a crawl space. We have found that most spaces are incorrectly conditioned.....or should I say say, not conditioned at all. Insulation is typically installed within the floor joist, leaving the crawlspace open and unconditioned. The foundation walls and ground should have a vapor barrier installed over them and insulation should be installed around the perimeter. You wouldn't do the wall that connects to the main house. You want this space to be treated like an extension of the basement.
