As the cost of energy keeps rising

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INSULATING THE ATTIC

As the cost of energy keeps rising, builders and homeowners realize the value of properly insulating a home. It will reduce your monthly bills, make it easier to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home and extend the life of your heating / cooling system. And it does save significant energy now that it is imperative we all try to conserve to drive down fuel prices.

The attic is typically the hottest area of the house in the summer. This heat will transfer into the living space and strain your air conditioning system. In the winter, a poorly insulated attic will allow the rising heat generated in your living space a natural means to escape. Adding loose insulation to your attic is a simple task requiring no special skills. Cellulose insulation is an organic, recycled, loose-fill insulation commonly blown into attics or walls. It is typically made of recycled newspaper which has been treated with a flame retardant.

In our climate, an R38 insulation value is considered standard in the attic although R49 is ideal. An approximate 11-12" depth of loose cellulose is required for an R38 value, 15-16 for R49 depending on the manufacturer. A 1000 sq ft bare ceiling would take about 60 bags of cellulose at roughly $6 a bag so considering you are likely adding to existing insulation of some sort and won't need 60 bags, the cost is truly minimal for very substantial results.

You will need goggles, gloves, a dust mask, a cellulose insulation blower, bags of cellulose and a helper. It is best to cover exposed skin with your clothing so to protect yourself from any airborne irritants. It will get very dusty in the attic as you are blowing the insulation. And install attic insulation when coolest, spring or fall, and in the morning, as it can get blistery hot in the attic, sometimes even dangerously hot. Other than that, the task is so simple there really is no method. One person will feed the bags into the hopper of the blower outside while the other holds the 50-100' hose in position in the attic as the cellulose loosely blows out the end. Start somewhere distant from the attic access and work your way back. Step on the ceiling joists and not on the sheetrock as it will not support your weight. Sometimes a short plank is handy to lay across the ceiling joists. Be careful not to cover your soffit vents with insulation as your attic needs proper ventilation. Periodically use a tape measure or stick to determine the depth you have reached. When finished, enjoy real and tangible energy savings!

Last modified: April 10, 2017