Do You Need Attic 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.

Do you need attic insulation.

Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. 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. This is more expensive and usually requires a contractor but it may be worth the cost especially if you live in a very cold climate. Insulation level are specified by r value.

To be able to answer this question correctly for your home there are a few factors you need to consider before any major attic insulation project. 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. First things first you need to go up into your attic inspect the condition of the insulation and calculate the current level of insulation. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the 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. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The attic is the easiest place to add insulation to improve your comfort and the energy efficiency of your home.

For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. Those in very cold climates may need even higher r values. 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. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. Do i have enough. 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. The easiest place to get a gauge on your home s current insulation condition is in the attic.

If you are planning to have an attic insulation project for your home you may be wondering whether it is important to have a vapor barrier installed as well. If you don t have enough it may be an indication that your home is under insulated and may not be properly sealed. You need up to 19 inches or r 49 for efficiency.