Do I Need More Attic Insulation

The attic is the easiest place to add insulation to improve your comfort and the energy efficiency of your home.

Do i need more attic insulation.

Common signs of problems with insulation. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Blowing attic insulation isn t hard but it s dusty sweaty work.

Do i have enough. In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49. You can do it yourself for about 500. Inspecting your attic insulation.

The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. Dallas texas falls in climate zone three where attics are recommended to have an r value between 38 49 this means a minimum of 12 of insulation. No matter what kind of insulation you currently have in your attic one quick way to determine if you need more is to look across the span of your attic. But it settles more than those materials so you ve got to put in a thicker layer to get the protection you need.

Unless your roofing system has insulation on the roofing deck and is designed without ventilation your furnace should not be heating your attic. How do i know if i have enough insulation in my attic. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. Poor insulation is usually the culprit although if you enter the attic on sunny winter day your attic space can be warmed by the sun more than your furnace.

If you notice one or more of these occurring you probably need to take action. There are four especially common signs of problems with attic insulation. A quick way to see if you need more insulation is to look across your attic floor. However there are a few easy things you can do to see if your attic is properly insulated.

First things first you need to go up into your attic inspect the condition of the insulation and calculate the current level of insulation. The pros charge 1 500 to 2 000 to do a 1 200 sq ft. Your home s r value score will guide you toward the type of insulation you need. If your insulation is just level with or below your floor.

In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60. Your attic should have a certain amount of insulation in it and the recommended level of insulation for your attic is dependent on where you live. If you need to add insulation in your attic save big by blowing in cellulose insulation yourself. Blown in insulation overview.

How much does attic insulation cost. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.