Attic Insulation Effectiveness

Handy homeowners can install blown in insulation in the attic.

Attic insulation effectiveness.

Hvac equipment in the attic that is well insulated and sealed. On the flip side if your insulation levels are that low you would probably see more bang for. A radiant barrier is designed to increase the effectiveness of your thermal envelope. The effectiveness of an insulation material s resistance to heat flow also depends on how and where the insulation is installed.

R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. The higher the r value the more effective an insulating material is. Commonly used and inexpensive but fibers can irritate lungs and skin though less so than in years past thanks to better manufacturing and it s less effective at blocking airflow than other. To determine how much insulation you need for your climate consult a local insulation contractor.

In general an attic s r value should be. Attic insulation that is less than r 19. When it is most effective attic ventilation fans work best if the attic floor is thoroughly sealed hvac equipment is well insulated and sealed and attic insulation is less than r 19. If installed on top of attic floor insulation the foil will be susceptible to dust accumulation and may trap moisture in fiber insulation so it is strongly recommended that you not apply radiant barriers directly on top of the attic floor insulation.

An attic floor that is thoroughly air sealed. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. Blowing insulation into walls is best left to the pros because it involves drilling into stud spaces that may contain electrical. Recycled glass or sand that s melted and spun into fibers.

It is meant to supplement insulation not replace it. By reducing the amount of radiant heat reaching the insulation in your attic the insulation remains cooler and is able to keep your home more comfortable. That doesn t mean all those higher levels of insulation are cost effective though. You ve got to do the calculations to find where your optimum is.

Attic ventilation fans could be effective if your home has. An attic fan can be used temporarily during the summer to decrease the electric bill but it won t be the best option in the long run. To be effective the reflective surface must face an air space. The bottom line is that although you can certainly put r 40 insulation under your slab or r 80 insulation in your walls it may not be the smartest thing to do.

The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Your home s r value score will guide you toward the type of insulation you need.