Isolation levels are specified by R-Value. The R value is a measure of the insulation's ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R value, the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate them to R-38 or approximately 10 to 14 inches, depending on the type of insulation.
Sure, you can lower the thermostat and get used to wearing bulky sweaters indoors to reduce costs. But if you have an unfinished attic, properly insulating it is one of the easiest ways to control your heating bill this season. It's a DIY project that you can tackle in a weekend and the savings you'll get add up every year, says TOH general contractor Tom Silva. The Department of Energy estimates that an attic with adequate insulation can reduce your heating bill by 10 to 50 percent.
And it works the opposite way for hot climates; in summer, it helps stabilize indoor temperatures in the house to keep cooling needs under control. With blown fiberglass insulation, this means a minimum of 12 inches of attic insulation, up to 20 inches of fiberglass insulation. Increasing the R value of your attic insulation will help limit the need for a new air conditioning installation in Plano, TX and surrounding communities. The insulating fibers are packaged in bags and blown to the desired depth and density with special machinery that can be rented at a home center.
Deciding how much insulation your attic needs is a matter of knowing the R value of your insulation material and the total R value your attic needs to reach, and then buying enough material for the equation to work. In a perfect world, you would hire an energy auditor to tell you exactly how much protection you get with the few inches of attic insulation you already have and to identify things like air leaks that you can seal to make sure your insulation works well. Your attic should have a certain amount of insulation, and the recommended level of insulation for your attic depends on where you live. In addition, since you already have broken insulation in your attic, use only uncoated slatted insulation without a vapor retarder.
Once the insulation settles or becomes entangled, its insulating capacity decreases and the R value decreases. To find out if you have sufficient insulation in your attic, measure the thickness of the insulation from top to bottom with a ruler. Leave a section of the attic isolated and only add insulation to areas that will not be used as storage. Having the right amount of insulation in the attic can help you maintain a comfortable temperature throughout your home and save money on your energy bills*, as well as avoid serious problems, such as ice accumulations in winter.
R-Value attic insulation is basically how effectively an insulator traps heat and keeps it in the room. For example, uncoated insulation is ideal for adding to existing attic insulation, but paper-coated insulation is better for new spaces.
