Proper attic insulation helps keep your home running efficiently by keeping warm or cool air inside your home. In the winter, proper attic insulation is a must to keep a warm home. So, how do you know if your attic has adequate insulation?
Your attic is most likely your home’s biggest source of heat loss in the winter and cool air in the summer. Insufficient attic insulation can cause your utility bill to be as much as 15% higher than it should be.
As your home gets older, the amount of insulation in your attic tends to become less effective as normal wear and tear and attic usage either mash down the insulation or removes it all together. In many cases, the original amount of insulation in your home was not sufficient for our climate to begin with. If your home is more than 10 years old, the likelihood is very low that your attic’s insulation is thick enough to function like it should.
Insufficient attic insulation causes your energy bills to be higher than they should be. Loss of heat in the winter and loss of cool air in the summer will cause your comfort system to operate more than it should.
An insulating material’s resistance to conductive heat flow is measured or rated in terms of its thermal resistance or R-value: the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. The R-value depends on the type of insulation, its thickness, and its density. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, we live in a climate region that calls for attic insulation to be from an R30 to an R60.
To find out if you have enough attic insulation, measure the thickness of the insulation. If it is less than R-30 (11 inches of fiberglass or rock wool or 8 inches of cellulose), you could probably benefit from adding more.
If you have questions about whether or not your attic contains enough insulation, call Bunn’s and Bennett Heating and Air Conditioning at 256-536-0967 and we will be happy to come by and measure your attic’s insulation for you. If it happens that your attic needs more insulation, we’ll provide you with a free estimate with no obligation.
Bunn’s and Bennett Heating and Air Conditioning is an award winning licensed and insured HVAC dealer, serving Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley for more than 30 years. Feel free to contact us at any time concerning your home’s comfort system. You can email us at [email protected] or call us at 256-536-0967. Visit our website at www.bunnshvac.com.
