Having the proper amount of insulation in your attic doesn’t merely keep your house pleasant. It can help you save lots of money on your energy bills.
If you think your home is among the 90% in the United States that doesn’t have enough attic insulation, now is an excellent time to install more. Having adequate insulation helps even out your house’s temperature and stop wintertime problems like ice dams, according to the Insulation Institute.
As you get ready to begin adding insulation to your attic, you may be wondering if you need to do attic insulation removal. Not necessarily, and here’s why.
In Most Instances, You Can Keep Old Attic Insulation
Unless your present insulation is wet or damaged, you can often keep it. We recommend hiring a professional who specializes in attic insulation in Kingwood, like Finch Air Conditioning & Heating. That way, you’ll know your attic insulation is added properly and achieves building code standards. Correct installation also means you’ll enjoy maximum benefits for energy efficiency.
If your insulation looks like shiny pebbles or chips, stop prior to adding more insulation. Vermiculite insulation was frequently installed in homes built earlier than 1990. The EPA says you should assume it has asbestos, which can result in cancer. Don’t touch it or disturb it and get in touch with a professional who specializes in asbestos removal.
How Much Attic Insulation You Should Add
ENERGY STAR® advises attics should have at minimum 14” of insulation, which offers an R-value of 38. Attic insulation R-value gauges how well insulation can divert heat. If you have a home in a northern climate, as much as 18” or an R-value of 49 is advised.
R-value is also affected by the kind of insulation you install, its density and how it’s added. When you work with a company like Finch Air Conditioning & Heating, our Experts take all the guessing out of R-values and how much insulation needs to be put in.
What’s the Best Insulation for My Attic?
Finch Air Conditioning & Heating determines the right insulation for your attic by considering where you own your home, your budget and how much insulation you need to install. Here are the types of attic insulation we use.
Batt Attic Insulation
This kind of insulation comes in sheets trimmed to fit your attic and is built from fiberglass, mineral wool or cotton. Fiberglass is the most requested, because of its price, moisture resistance and fire resistance. Mineral wool is more expensive, but offers top protection against fire, water and sound. Usually constructed from recycled jeans, cotton insulation is a sustainable option that provides excellent performance.
Blown-In Attic Insulation
A special machine is used to add blown-in attic insulation, which may contain fiberglass, cellulose, mineral wool or cotton. Cellulose is a good choice if you have many little areas to fill, including around pipes, wiring or framing. While cellulose is economical and fire resistant, you’ll also have to consider that it can hold on to moisture and settle as time passes.
Spray Foam Attic Insulation
This liquid insulation transforms to a hard foam on contact. It provides the strongest barrier against air, vapor and water. Spray foam attic insulation is ideal for plugging cracks and other tricky-to-access locations. It’s very long-lasting, doesn’t go down and offers a natural sound block.
When you are looking to to install more insulation in your attic, Finch Air Conditioning & Heating can help. Our licensed and certified Experts are here to give skilled advice and excellent service that includes a 100% satisfaction guarantee.* Contact us at 281-407-9478 or use our online scheduler to schedule an appointment right away.
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