Whether you live in a warm-weather state, as I do, or in a cooler northern climate, it’s hard to stay comfortable and keep your energy bills in check if you don’t have adequate insulation in the attic.
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2. Whether you live in a warm-weather state,
as I do, or in a cooler northern climate, it’s
hard to stay comfortable and keep your
energy bills in check if you don’t have
adequate insulation in the attic. But many
homeowners I talk with don’t know how
much is enough. The answer depends on
where you live.
3. Typically, houses in warm-weather states
should have an R-38 insulation in the attic,
whereas houses in cold climates should
have R-49. These insulation levels will keep
heated air from migrating out in winter. In a
cooling climate, a good blanket of attic
insulation helps keep the house cooler and
reduces the load on air-conditioning
equipment.
4.
5. Most attics are insulated with blown-in
loose cellulose (R-3.5 per inch), blown-in
loose fiberglass (R-2.5 per inch) or
fiberglass batts (R-3.2 per inch). Cellulose
is recycled newsprint treated with a fire
retardant. Fiberglass is just that–thin fibers
of glass that trap air. To determine if you
need more insulation, measure what’s in
place with a ruler or tape.
6. The chart included below shows you the
approximate thickness of each type of
insulation you should ideally have in the
attic. When you do the measuring, make
sure you have plenty of light to work by,
and work on a cool day. And be careful not
to step through the ceiling.
7.
8. You can install fiberglass batts yourself
right over existing insulation, but follow
these precautions:
• Wear a long-sleeve shirt, gloves, eye
protection and a dust mask.
• Make sure you use an unfaced batt (one
without a paper or foil layer) so the
insulation does not trap moisture in the
ceiling.
9. • Lay the batts perpendicular to the joists
so they do not compress the insulation
below.
• Don’t cover can lights unless they are
rated for contact with insulation. It’s
safer to build a small enclosure with
hardware cloth or plywood to keep
loose insulation away from lights and
exhaust fans.
10.
11. • Use cardboard or rigid-foam baffles to
keep soffit vents open.
• Fill all cracks between the living area
and the attic with caulk or expanding
foam.
12. A tightly sealed house is just as important as
insulation. If you decide on loose-fill fiberglass or
cellulose, consider hiring a pro to install the
material. The equipment pros use blows in
material at the correct density. Don’t be
concerned if it seems they are installing more
insulation than necessary; the material will settle
to the right thickness.
