(ARA) - The cold and snow have arrived, which
means it’s a great time to make sure your home has enough insulation in the
attic. If you can see the wood beams of the attic floor, it’s probably
under-insulated. What you find out will help you keep your house warmer and
save you money for years to come.
Measure the depth of your insulation. If it’s less than 15.5 inches, you’re
literally losing heat and money through your roof each year. With home heating
prices taking a hefty hike this winter, adding insulation to your attic is one
of the easiest ways homeowners can fight back. Think of it as an investment
that pays for itself year after year.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 80 percent of homes built before
1980 are not insulated to government standards. |
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 Even
newer homes may not be as energy-efficient as you think, since state energy
codes are only the minimum insulation requirements for new construction, not the
amount recommend to optimize energy efficiency. So the only way to know for sure
if you have enough insulation is to get up in the attic and measure.
Insulating your attic not only helps keep your heat and money at home, but is
good for the environment too. A recent study by the McKinsey Global Institute
concluded that insulation is the single most cost-effective way to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. Bringing the estimated 60 million under-insulated
attics up to Department of Energy guidelines could save the equivalent of 103
million barrels of oil each year -- that’s 51 supertankers full.
If a warmer home, reduced energy bills and a greener planet aren’t enough
incentive to add insulation, many states and utilities offer additional
incentives too, so be sure to check for local rebates.
How much insulation do I need?
The amount of insulation needed varies depending on the region of the country
where you live. In most cases, the Department of Energy recommends attics be
insulted to R-49. The R-value represents thermal resistance to heat flow, so the
higher the R-value, the greater the insulation effectiveness. Attaining an R-49
value requires15.5 inches of fiberglass blanket insulation or about 18 inches of
blown insulation. To assist homeowners in determining the amount of insulation
needed to achieve recommended R-values, Owens Corning, maker of PINK Fiberglas
insulation, has created a special Web site, www.InsulateYourAtticNow.com. Simply
enter the square footage of your attic and the thickness of insulation you
currently have, and it will tell you your current R-value and how many rolls of
insulation you’ll need.
Installation is easy
Most do it yourselfers prefer fiberglass insulation, which comes in easy to
install rolls or batts. Widths correspond with standard spacing of attic floor
joists (beams) and lengths can be easily cut with a utility knife. If your attic
currently has no insulation, purchase paper-faced rolls that include a vapor
barrier. The vapor barrier should face down in an attic. If your current
insulation already has a vapor barrier, use unfaced insulation.
When installing insulation in your attic, you’ll want to lay down boards or a
sheet of plywood over the rafters to sit on while you work. If joist cavities
are not completely filled with insulation, fill them first. Once the joist
cavities are filled, then lay the insulation crosswise, perpendicular to the
joists. Be sure to wear work gloves, safety glasses, a dust respirator mask and
a long-sleeved shirt. You’ll also want a utility knife and straightedge for
cutting the insulation, a tape measure, portable work light and a stapler.
For more information on how to insulate your attic, or to find an insulation
contractor who can do it for you, visit
www.InsulateYourAtticNow.com. To find out how to qualify for a Federal
Energy Tax Credit, visit
www.owenscorning.com/insulationfedtaxcredit.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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Now Is the Perfect Time to Check Your Home’s Insulation |
