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Category attic insulation

Advantages of Additional Attic Insulation

1 comment By Jacob Filed in attic insulation Tagged with June 17th, 2010 @ 7:46 pm

Attic insulation has several advantages. It can save homeowners money on electric bills. Homes will be cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Insulation also helps reduce noise. As an added bonus, the government may help pay for the insulation.

Home insulation helps owners save money on their home heating and cooling bills: by adding insulation to a poorly insulated home, electric bills could be cut by up to 20%. For an electric bill of $300 dollars per month, a household could save as much as $60. The Federal Government is offering tax incentives for insulating the home. The Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit will allow individuals to receive credit up to $1500 dollars for improving the building insulation of their residence. This credit is only available until the end of 2010, however.

In addition to Federal incentives, many states and local communities offer grants, loans, and rebate programs. Check with your local power company or utility for details. For instance, Tampa Electric has the Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program. They offer rebates (if the owner meets various conditions) for installation of insulation in walls and ceilings.

In order to maximize the amount you save on your electric bill, concentrate fiberglass insulation installation efforts on the following areas. Be sure the house roof is insulated, and also any unheated space between the roof and residence areas. It is important to insulate exterior walls, especially around windows. If the residence has a room over an unheated garage, place insulation in the ceiling of the garage. Insulate basement walls and ceilings.

Home insulation reduces noise, especially when using fiberglass sheets or batting. R-value is the resistance to heat flow; the higher the R-value of the insulation, the better the noise reduction and the greater the energy insulation value.

Key points to remember are that building insulation could reduce energy bills and the government may help pay for the installation. It keeps the home more comfortable for the resident by reducing temperature in the summer; increasing the temperature in the winter and reducing noise.

Attic Insulation Installation

0 comments By John Filed in attic insulation, installation Tagged with , , February 8th, 2010 @ 5:30 am

An attic that is insulated well makes your home much warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer which saves you a ton of money on your energy bill. It also keeps you comfortable which is important too. Attic insulation installation is pretty easy to do and relatively inexpensive.

The first step is buying the insulation that you will be putting into your attic. This might be cellulose, fiberglass batts, or foil depending on your needs. The first consideration is how much r-value you need with your insulation. When you go to the store you will notice that all the bags have a r-value rating on their labels. The higher the r-value, the greater its resistance to heat transfer. The amount of r-value that you need depends on where you live and what type of heating system is in your home. The Department of Energy has a ZIP Code Insulation Program website that can help you determine how much insulation you’ll need based on your ZIP code. It is a pretty neat tool. You will also need to calculate how much insulation you’ll need. This will require a measuring tape, calculator, and your noggin. You should probably buy a little bit extra just in case and you can always return what you don’t use.

Things you will need when it is time to install your attic insulation:

  • Gloves
  • Full-covering clothes
  • Mask
  • Utility knife
  • Measuring tape
  • Insulation

This is a job that can definitely be completed by one person, but it helps to have a helper. You will want to begin at the end of one side of the attic space and work your way back to the attic access. Make sure to carefully keep your weight on the joists in your attic. Either unroll the insulation batts or blow in the insulation with a machine. Take care not to step on and compress any of the insulation. Make sure that you fully cover every area of the attic out to the edges. Depending on the type of insulation you use, you will want to keep the insulation away from recessed fixtures or wiring that might cause a fire from flammable insulation. You might want to bring a small piece of plywood into the attic with you so that you can kneel as you work without having to balance on the joists. Once you have covered the whole area with insulation then you are done. It really was that easy!

Guide to Insulating Attic

2 comments By John Filed in attic insulation Tagged with , , January 13th, 2009 @ 10:18 pm

insulating atticOne of the most effective energy savers is insulating attic thoroughly with a substantial r-value material. That leaves you with several options depending on the make up of your attic and the region your home is located.

Properly insulating and sealing your attic can significantly help reduce your energy bills. The good news is that attics are often one of the easiest places in a house to insulate, especially if you would simply like to add more insulation.

Loose-fill and batt-insulation are the most common insulation types installed in an attic. Although installation costs vary, loose-fill insulation is typically less expensive than batt-insulation. When installed correctly, loose-fill insulation generally provides much better coverage.

While a layer of insulation on the attic floor is usually enough coverage, you might consider installing a radiant barrier in your attic along with the floor insulation if you live in a warmer climate.

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