Why is Attic Insulation So Important!
Properly insulating an attic or crawlspace can be one of the single most effective ways to save money. The labor and material costs versus savings make it easy to get a return on your investment. This is especially true with attic insulation in Columbus, Mansfield, Akron, and Central Ohio, where extreme weather is a way of life.
If insulating your attic is really such a money saver, then why do so many people fail to get it done?
Should You DIY or Call an Insulation Expert?
One of the biggest problems surrounding attic insulation is homeowners not actually knowing if it’s done correctly. Many homeowners assume that their attic insulation is installed correctly without ever really checking it. Others think they know how to insulate an attic, crawlspace, and ducts correctly but may not be doing it efficiently.
Take a look at the attached diagram. This was provided by energy.gov, the federal government website, which provides endless information on best practices for efficient energy use. As you can see, there are more than a dozen areas they recommend insulating correctly in your home.
For more information, check out the energy.gov website.
Unless you’re 100% certain that you know what you’re doing, it’s always in your best interest to call a professional. Even missing a something small while insulating your home could cost you hundreds of dollars per year. Not to mention the discomfort of living in a home that’s too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer.
Call Prestige! We’ll make sure your attic insulation is done right!
How Can You Tell If My Insulation Isn't Doing It's Job?
Are you cold inside your home in January?
Then you may have a problem with your insulation.
While that is oversimplifying things a bit, one of the easiest ways to tell if your home is insulated correctly is your comfort level throughout the year. As long as you have decent widows that are sealed with weatherstripping and your attic is insulated, your home should stay at a comfortable temperature.
If this is not the case, you need to find out why. If your home is constantly running your heater and you still feel chilly, there is an issue. The same goes for an overworked AC unit in the summer. If your home is still warm, your summer insulation in Mansfield may be old and ineffective. You should call a Prestige today!.
Can you feel a draft?
The easiest way to tell that your home is not completely insulated is there’s a noticeable drafty. This is especially important in your attic or crawlspace. Any noticeable draft in your home is going to be caused by an issue with windows, doors, or weatherstripping, or insulation. If you can feel the outside air, call Prestige right away!
High(er) Energy Costs
Energy costs throughout Central Ohio can be a huge expense, but poor insulation in your attic could be costing you even more. If there’s been a noticeable increase in your energy bills, there may be an issue.
Rooms are different temperatures
When a home is insulated correctly, every room should be at a similar temperature. If an upstairs bedroom is much colder in the winter, there is most likely a problem with the home’s insulation. Many people believe they can resolve this issue with a small heater, but this could be costing much more than simply fixing the issue.
Systems constantly running
Even with proper attic insulation in Columbus, your heating system is going to get it’s money’s worth in February. But if it’s constantly running, or if it stops and starts right back up, your home is not holding in the heat. Any time you notice heating or air conditioning systems staying on more than they should, you need to get the issue checked out. You don’t want to be one of the people whose air conditioner dies in August from overwork!
Does it seem like it needs replaced?
It’s in our nature to try to convince ourselves that things are ok when they’re not, especially when we aren’t really able to fix them. If you think your insulation isn’t doing the job it should, then it most likely isn’t. If you can visually see it and it looks like it was installed when Elvis was alive, it may not be doing it’s job. If you notice areas where mice or insects may have gotten into it, there are probably areas that are much worse that you can’t see.
Our best recommendation is, if you think you have a problem with your home or attic insulation, you probably do. Call Prestige. We’ll discuss the issues and we’ll give you a fast, honest quote right away. You may be surprised at how inexpensive it is to feel comfortable in your home again!
Different Types of Attic Insulation
When it comes time to choose which products to insulate your home,the options are mind boggling. When most of us were younger, insulation came in a big pink roll from the hardware store. That was it.
Now, a simple internet search or trip to Home Depot will have homeowners immediately scratching their head. They’ll realize very quickly how much they don’t know about the intricate process of insulating a modern home.
Prestige understands the importance of making the right choices for your home. We’ll help you decide on the best home and attic insulation option for your family. Prestige will explain the benefits, energy cost savings, and upfront costs of each. Here are some of the differences between the two most common choices to insulate; fiberglass or blown.
Blanket Insulation-Batt and Roll
Blanket insulation is by far the most common form used. It is also the most easily available (remember the big, pink roll we were talking about). Batt and rolls is most commonly made with fiberglass, but they can be made with other materials. Some of which are mineral wool, sheep’s wool, plastic fibers, and cotton.
Blanket insulation is typically going to be one of the better values for insulating. It’s effectiveness is determined by it’s thickness, which is generally between 3 and 12 inches. The least expensive is going to be in the three inch range, while the thickest is going to up to 4 times more effective.
Foam Board or Rigid Foam
Foam board insulation, which are made of rigid, dense panels, are a terrific way to insulate your attic, or any other area in your home. They are much more dense than blanket resulting in 2x or more efficiency.
Rigid foam insulation can easily be installed between attic rafters, or underneath them, depending on requirements. It’s going to add extra efficiency to any radiant barrier in your attic as well. It greatly helps reduce heat conduction through wood and steel, making it perfect for attic ceilings.
Another benefit is that it’s density provides a great air and moisture barrier. This is going to add an additional layer of protection against roof leaks.
Loose Fill or Blown In Insulation
Blown in insulation consists of small pieces of loose materials such as fiber or foam. It is generally installed with a blowing machine or installed by hand. While blown in insulation is certainly not a good choice to insulate everywhere in your home, it works wonders in the right spaces.
Blown in insulation is used for area that are sloping, between rafters, or hard to reach otherwise. It is most commonly used on open attic floors. Loose fill is generally made with recycled materials such as fiberglass, cellulose, and rock wool. Contact Prestige and we’ll go over your particular needs and see if blown in insulation in your attic is the best option.
Fiberglass Duct Board
Just like the name indicates, fiberglass duct board is mainly used to insulate your air ducts. It’s specifically designed to withstand high temperatures. This makes it perfect for air ducts that will be used to heat your home.
When installing fiberglass duct board, you’ll most likely want to contact a professional.
Radiant Barrier Attic Insulation
Combined with either blanket, spray foam, or foam board attic insulation, radiant barrier is going to have a dramatic effect on your home’s comfort. With proper attic insulation radiant barrier can seriously increase the effectiveness. But it is highly recommended to have it installed by a certified professional like Prestige.
What is Radiant Barrier?
Radiant barrier is a type of material that reduces the transfer of heat and reflects thermal radiation. It is used for many different reason, one of the most popular being for attic insulation.
Officially, radiant barrier has been around since 1925, originally invented by two German businessmen. Since then, it exploded in popularity. It’s been used by celebrities like Frank Sinatra as well as in space applications by NASA. It is effective as a window treatment as a thin low emissivity film. It’s even used for the manufacture of space blankets (which are rarely used in outer space, in spite of their name).
How Can My Home Benefit from Radiant Barrier Insulation?
When radiant barrier insulation is installed in a home in a climate like that of Columbus or Mansfield, it can have year round benefits. When Prestige installs attic insulation in your home, the radiant barrier is placed between the insulation and the roof panels. This creates a shield that prevents heat from passing through.
Radiant Barrier In Hot Climates
In the summer, the hot Ohio sun is beating down on the rooftop all day long. That constant heat gets absorbed through the roof, drastically increasing the temperature of your attic or crawlspace. Keeping your home cool in these conditions becomes much more difficult.
Your air conditioner has to run longer and harder to keep the temperature down. This causes much more wear and tear on your cooling unit, reducing the life span. This can incur repair bills or a complete replacement of your AC unit.
An overheated attic can also effect the comfort level in your home. On very hot days, it can be difficult or impossible to get you home cooled to a comfortable temperature. This is especially difficult with an older cooling unit. Also, if you don’t keeping the AC running constantly, it can take much longer to feel the effects when it does get turned on.
Radiant Barrier In Cold Weather
In the winter, when temperatures dipping to extreme low temperatures, radiant barrier works differently. Instead of keeping the heat from the beating sun out, it works to keep warmth from escaping.
Even with decent insulation in your attic, there’s still more that you can do to prevent heat loss. It’s fairly common knowledge that heat rises. Two or three story homes can be extremely difficult to keep warm. Especially if they’re older.
As heat rises throughout your home, it eventually reaches the roof. Proper attic insulation along with a strong radiant barrier can provide the most protection against heat loss. The more heat you keep in your home, the less you have to spend to heat it.
Plus living in a properly heated home in Ohio can make all the difference in the world. It’s worth the investment in terms of comfort and lower heating costs.