Leave the crawl space alone if you live in a warm climate such as southern Florida or southern, inland California. A crawl space can be left without duct insulation in areas where heating is rarely used.
Wear safety goggles, gloves and a face mask when handling fiberglass batt insulation for warm to moderate climate areas, such as Virginia, Arizona and New Mexico. Measure the area of the crawl space using a metal measuring tape. Cut the fiberglass batt insulation to the size you need using a utility knife.
Cut vertical slits approximately 12 inches long and 6 inches apart over each piece. This allows the insulation to fit around pipes or wiring. Staple the insulation to wooden studs using a staple gun. Place staples evenly spaced and 3 inches apart.
Shoot your nozzle at the ceiling of your crawl space with spray foam insulation, which is well suited for colder climates, such as New England. These come in tanks with a nozzle for easy application. The material expands 100 times, so use it conservatively.
Spray the insulation evenly between the studs and across exterior sheathing. Allow it to expand completely. Saw off any areas that extend past studs. This type of insulation creates an airtight seal better than fiberglass batt insulation.