Do You Need Attic Insulation

Your attic should have a certain amount of insulation in it and the recommended level of insulation for your attic is dependent on where you live.

Do you need attic insulation.

If your attic has enough insulation and proper air sealing and your home still feels drafty and cold in the winter or too warm in the summer chances are you need to add insulation to the exterior walls. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. Inspecting your attic insulation. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.

If you don t have enough it may be an indication that your home is under insulated and may not be properly sealed. Although you can get better performance from any insulation simply by installing a greater thickness of it the department of energy recommends you have more than an r 30 rating on your attic insulation. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.

Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. First things first you need to go up into your attic inspect the condition of the insulation and calculate the current level of insulation. All of these components are important to maintaining a safe and effective infrastructure and thus the increasing need for proper and safe attic ventilation. No matter what kind of insulation you currently have in your attic one quick way to determine if you need more is to look across the span of your attic.

Those in very cold climates may need even higher r values. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. The easiest place to get a gauge on your home s current insulation condition is in the attic. You need up to 19 inches or r 49 for efficiency.

Insulation level are specified by r value. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. The attic is the easiest place to add insulation to improve your comfort and the energy efficiency of your home.

Do i have enough. Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces. When it comes to the various types of attic insulation used throughout building structures one of the most popular to use is spray foam insulation.