Saving Money with Proper Attic Insulation

If you’re like most homeowners these days, you’re constantly looking for new ways to save money on your energy bills throughout the year. One suggestion you may have come across is getting appropriate attic insulation. Here, we’ll take a deep dive into what attic insulation is and how it can help you save money below.

What Is Attic Insulation?

Simply defined, attic insulation is a barrier system. It works to prevent outside conditions from affecting the temperature inside your home. It keeps the hot air out in summer and the cold air out in winter. All attic insulation is given a specific rating called its R-value. This designates how resistant the material is to temperature changes. The higher the R-value, the more resistant the temperature is. In Richardson, TX, the recommended R-value for residential buildings is between 30 and 60.

The Different Types of Attic Insulation

There are many different types of attic insulation that you can choose from. Each works best in varying attic conditions and comes at its own price point. The most common forms are blanket, loose-fill, panel, and spray foam. Blanket insulation is very popular due to its vast affordability and ease of installation. It comes in fiberglass, plastic, or natural materials that are formulated into a batt sheet that can be unrolled and stapled into position.

Loose-fill, also known as blown-in insulation, is another popular option that involves physically blowing the loose particles of insulation into the various sections of your attic. Loose-fill insulation is usually made of rockwool, cellulose, or fiberglass. This type of insulation is ideal for attic environments where an installer is unable to physically maneuver to install blanket insulation.

Rigid panel insulation comes in large panels of around eight by four feet. They’re an ideal choice for new construction projects because they’re very easy to install in an open environment. While rigid panels are more costly, they’re also more energy-efficient and stronger than other types of insulation.

Lastly, we have spray foam insulation. This typically isn’t used as a sole method of insulation due to its price. However, spray foam is commonly added to other forms of insulation to complete a solid barrier in an attic. Spray foam is sprayed from a container and will fit into small crevices and hard-to-reach areas.

Save on Home Heating and Cooling Costs

Probably one of the best reasons to invest in attic insulation for your home is that it will help you reduce your home heating and cooling costs. Insulation is that necessary barrier that will hold your heat in during the winter and your conditioned air in during the summer. Without it, your HVAC system would have to run overtime to keep the inside of your home at a comfortable temperature.

Fill Open Spaces

When heating or cooling your home, all open areas will receive that treated air. When you opt for installing insulation in your attic, it will take up some of that open space. With less open space to fill, your HVAC system can run even less while still keeping your home at a desirable temperature.

Receive Eligible Rebates

The beauty of home insulation is not only seen by homeowners but also by utility companies. Most will offer homeowners who invest in home insulation that meets a set minimum R-value a rebate. This can help you to recoup some of the cost that you put into purchasing new attic insulation for your home.

Other Key Benefits of Investing in Attic Insulation

Apart from saving you money, there are many other key benefits that attic insulation can provide you with. One of the more important ones is that it can increase the resale value of your home. In fact, it’s been commonly estimated that homeowners can receive a 117% return on their investment in attic insulation when they go to sell their homes.

Another benefit of attic insulation is that it tends to be very pest-resistant. This holds especially true when you invest in attic insulation that’s treated with boric acid to further deter pests from nesting in your attic. This works to handle issues like rats, mice, chipmunks, and so forth.

New attic insulation also goes a long way in protecting the quality of air inside your home. When outdoor air is restricted from passing through your insulation, all the nasty contaminants in it are also kept from entering the interior of your home. Furthermore, you can also enjoy the added benefit of reducing the internal temperature swings you experience in your home when there are temperature extremes outdoors.

As attic insulation does its job, it will reduce the need for your HVAC system to run as often to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. This reduction can help to extend the overall longevity of your home heating and cooling systems so you get more for your investment. Plus, insulation works well as a noise barrier to help minimize the outdoor noises that you hear. Attic insulation is also ideal for keeping excess moisture out of your home. By acting as a barrier, humid hot summer air will stay outside instead of entering your home. With less humidity getting in your home, it will be more comfortable to live in.

How to Properly Maintain Attic Insulation

Once you have attic insulation installed in your home, it’s important to properly maintain it so that it can provide you with all the great benefits that we discussed above. It’s highly advisable to inspect the state of your insulation twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.

When visually examining your insulation, you want to ensure that it sits just above the top of the floor joists. If it sits level or below the joists, then you should consider adding more insulation for optimal energy efficiency for your home. Look for any locations where your attic is physically missing insulation. Be mindful of any holes or disturbances to your insulation that could be caused by pests.

Top Signs It’s Time to Upgrade Your Old Attic Insulation

Attic insulation can have a very long lifespan, which makes it one of those home materials that can be overlooked when it’s actually in need of upgrading. The first key indicator that will let you know it’s time for an upgrade is if your batt insulation seems to be falling apart or your loose-fill insulation is sitting under the top of the floor joists in your attic.

You’ll likely notice that your energy bills seem to be constantly on the rise due to the inefficiency of your HVAC system. You may experience more moisture accumulating in your attic and feel more cold drafts coming from your ceilings. You may even notice that your seasonal allergies seem to be worse indoors as outside air is now finding its way into the inside of your home.

Reliable Attic Insulation Service

Cool Experts AC offers reliable attic insulation service for the Richardson, TX community. We can also help with all your heating, cooling, indoor air quality, dryer vent cleaning, and commercial needs. Simply give us a call today to schedule your next service consultation.