Time For More Home Attic Insulation

Time For More Home Attic Insulation

With the temperatures dropping and energy prices higher, natural gas heating is nolonger the cost advantage it once was.

 One of the main culprits in heat loss is the attic.  Heat rises and if there is an inefficient amount of insulation or unprotected areas, much of your heat from your living space will be lost. Inspecting your attic for proper insulation depth and R-value, air leaks and ventilation will tell you if you need to add insulation or seal some air leaks.

Insulation:
Rolls and batts—or blankets—are flexible products made from mineral fibers, such as fiberglass and rock wool. They are available in widths suited to standard spacings of wall studs and attic or floor joists: 2x4 walls can hold R-13 or R-15 batts; 2x6 walls can have R-19 or R-21 products.

Loose-fill insulation—usually made of fiberglass, rock wool, or cellulose—comes in shreds, granules, or nodules. These small particles should be blown into spaces using special pneumatic equipment. The blown-in material conforms readily to building cavities and attics. Therefore, loose-fill insulation is well suited for places where it is difficult to install other types of insulation.

Rigid foam insulation—foam insulation typically is more expensive than fiber insulation. But it's very effective in buildings with space limitations and where higher R-values are needed. Foam insulation R-values range from R-4 to R-6.5 per inch of thickness (2.54 cm), which is up to 2 times greater than most other insulating materials of the same thickness.

Adding Insulation in your attic is pretty easy.  Loose-Fill insulation can be blown in without the need of a contractor.  Purchasing from a hardware store is reletively inexpensive and many times you can also rent the blower from the same place you purchase the insulation.  Most home is the U.S. should have atleast an R-22(about 7" depth of insulation) and up to R-49 in the northern states that get cold winters.

Recommended R-value map