Before the dead of winter arrives, be sure you have adequate insulation inside your attic space. When this area doesn’t have enough insulating material, heat can easily escape. In turn, this can cause your home to feel cold and uncomfortable. Additionally, all of this heat loss from your attic may cause your heater to work harder to keep your home at the temperature you’ve set.
So, how can you tell whether or not you have enough insulation installed? Check out the information below to learn more.
Types of attic insulation
Depending on where you live, you likely have one of the following types of insulating material installed in your home: fiberglass batts, blown-in fiberglass, blown-in cellulose or spray foam insulation.
How much insulation should you have?
According to Energy Star, attics should have R-38 insulation, which is about 10-14 inches thick. To see how much insulation you currently have, use a ruler or tape measure to check the depth of insulation in your attic’s floor joists.
Another easy way to determine whether or not you have enough insulation in your attic is to do a visual check of the floor joists. If the insulation is low enough that you can see part of the joists, it’s time to add more material.
What is R-value?
This is a measurement of an insulating material’s ability to prevent heat loss. The higher the R-value, the better it is at insulating your home.
Why should I add more insulation?
Adding an extra layer of protection against heat loss is a smart idea for any energy-conscious homeowner.
Also, adding more insulation can provide your home with several other benefits, including:
- Lower energy bills. When your heating system doesn’t have to work overtime to keep your home warm, you may save on your monthly energy bills.
- Soundproofing. An extra layer of insulation may help to soundproof your home. This is great if you have young kids, pets, or like to play music loudly. Your neighbors will thank you.
- Preventing frozen pipes. Your home may have pipes in the attic. The warmer the space is, the lower the risk of having frozen lines.
- Preventing moisture intrusion. When you have more insulating materials in your home, it may help to prevent moisture caused by a roof leak from damaging wooden materials in your attic, such as floor joists.
- A cozier home. More insulation means less heat loss and a more comfortable home in the winter months.
It’s going to get much colder in the upcoming weeks. Take care of this problem now while it may still be fairly comfortable outside and in your attic!