The Importance of Attic Insulation

Attic insulation is of great importance. It’s common knowledge that heat rises and can escape through cracks in the attic. Also, during hot weather, hot air can get in through cracks, making your attic extremely hot and warming your house. This can make cooling your house difficult and expensive. Fixing these issues is simple: just insulate your attic.

Why Insulate

The rising cost of heating and cooling your home has a direct correlation to how well your attic is insulated. If your attic is not properly insulated, you will lose heat and cool air through it. If you want to make your home more green, then insulating your attic is a must. Cracks will allow the cool air to escape and force heat back down into your home during the warmer months. This will force you to cool your home more, adding to your energy costs. Similarly, when it’s cold, heat will escape through your attic forcing you to heat more. This will add to your heating costs.
Also, mold can become a problem. Cracks will allow moisture to enter your home and breed mold. The spores can then enter the rest of your home, causing odor and possibly wreaking havoc on your family’s health. Insulating your attic will prevent this from happening.
In addition, the cracks in your attic can let in pests and rodents. An infestation can be difficult and costly to get rid of.

Insulation

In order to figure out which insulation works for you, there are several factors to consider. First, you need to see how much space there is in your attic and how easily you can get to the space. The density of the material will also come into play. Each type of insulation will settle differently, causing it to decrease cost and effectiveness. Make sure your ceiling can handle the added weight.

Roll/Batt Insulation

For large spaces, consider Batt insulation. It’s able to be cut into uneven sheets. You can fit wires or pipes through it and you can purchase the kind with flame-resistant chemicals for where it will be exposed. Unfortunately, it is not water resistant.

Blown-In Insulation

Blown-In insulation is made up of loose materials that are chewed up by a machine and then sprayed onto your walls. It’s great for unfinished attics because it will fill in the holes. It gets into hard to reach places. However, it is also not water resistant.

Foam Insulation

Foam insulation is a special mix of chemicals that is sprayed onto the walls of your attic. It expands and seals up any cracks. It gets into areas that blown-in and batt insulation cannot. This insulation is water resistant.
Insulating your attic has many cost benefits. It will keep your house cooler during hot months and warmer during cold months. Insulating will save you money and keep your house at the correct temperature. There are several insulations to choose from, so do your research before choosing the right one for your home. Keep these tips in mind when searching for your insulation needs.