Backing Up the Attic Insulation

The attic will always be one of the spookiest places in your home. Admit it – it’s cold, dark, and no one will go up there unless you have something to store. However, the attic is also one of the prime places to watch for when it comes to keeping the heat warm in your home. A weakened insulation is one way to seek your energy bills climb up because the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system has to perform at higher capacity for the same amount of heat.

Installing further insulation requires determining the right R-values for your locality. In the case of Houston, a check of the Energy Department’s national chart shows the city, as well as most of southern Texas, at Zone IV. The category requires the attic to have a thermal protection value at R-49.

Your insulation specialist can determine if the existing insulation is enough for the value and may recommend installing extra. However, placement is key to getting the insulation down pat. Some experts state that if the attic is not used for storage, set up the insulation right on the floor; if the space has trusses linking down to the attic floor the gaps should be sealed with batts or spray-on insulation. However, plan on installing rafter vents to reduce moisture.

Put Heat In Its Place with Attic Insulation

Heaters are a must-have appliance for homes that experience frigid temperatures. While the devices are reliable in providing warmth, they can quickly burn through energy if they’re not optimized. Essentially, heaters will expend more power if a house manages to lose more heat than the appliance can produce, and it’s a major problem for households that have difficulty paying large energy bills.

Homeowners should therefore optimize their homes such that they can contain as much of the heat as possible. There are various ways to go about this optimization, from sealing doors and windows, to replacing regular windows for low emissivity versions, yet the changes can be very costly if all done at the same time. For those who want to start small, installing attic insulation is the affordable way to go.

According to the laws of physics, heat rises, so it makes perfect sense why attic insulation should be the primary focus in optimizing a home’s heating capacity. Insulating the attic should keep heat from trying to escape through the roof and into the atmosphere. Not only does it considerably slow down heat loss, attic insulation also prevents the formation of dangerous ice dams on the roof of a home.

Want to Save Money? Insulate Your Attic.

Everyone wants a comfortable home, and one way to ensure this is through proper heating and cooling. However, keeping a comfortable temperature inside your house can cost you more than 50% in your total electrical bill, according to the US Energy Department. Of course, making your home more energy efficient can cut down this expense, while helping the environment at the same time.

One of the best ways to do this is through attic insulation. Since the attic is directly below the roof, it collects a lot of heat which can radiate through your ceiling and into your home. A properly insulated attic will have sufficient R-value or thermal resistance—the ability to resist heat transfer. According to EnergyStar.com, the ideal R-value for Houston attics must be between R30 to R60 to allow maximum insulation.

Insulation will save you money regardless of the season. In the winter, an insulated attic will prevent the heat inside your home from escaping, meaning less work for your heater. In the summer, it will prevent heat from entering your home, which in turn lowers your cooling costs.

The attic may not be a popular option for home renovation projects. However, attic insulation is a worthwhile improvement that will help your home save energy and keep your family comfortable year-round.