When it comes to installing more attic insulation, many homeowners have no clue how much they need. If you don’t lay enough insulation, your home will be more prone to drafts and won’t be as energy-efficient. However, too much attic insulation will cause you to lose valuable space. Here’s how you can quickly figure out the right amount of insulation for your attic.
Signs You Need More Insulation
A good number of homes do not have the proper amount of insulation. Most could benefit from some more. Go inside your attic and take a look around. How much uncovered flooring or walls do you see? Contrary to popular belief, your insulation should cover more than just the cross beams. You also want it on the floors, walls, and in other crevices.
If you see any gaps along the perimeter of your attic, you should fill them in with more insulation. Otherwise, you risk losing air through those grooves, and your HVAC system will have to work harder to compensate. Furthermore, if you can see the floor joists, you probably need to install more insulation in those uncovered areas.
Once you have the right amount of insulation, you’ll notice your heating and cooling system doesn’t continuously run. The temperature and climate inside your home will be comfortable all year long. As a bonus, you’ll save some cash on your next energy bill. A correctly insulated attic is a win-win situation all ways around.
Can You Over-Insulate Your Home?
While it may seem that a lot of insulation is a good thing, it can have its drawbacks as well. Installing too much of it can also affect the energy efficiency of your home but in another way. Instead of losing air, excess insulation causes air to get trapped inside. Unfortunately, when this happens, hot, moist air may build up in the attic. And if this happens, you may end up with a mold problem.
Mold isn’t only bad for the appearance of your home—after all, no wants green-streaked walls. But it can also negatively affect your family’s health. Having a mold problem may lead to a variety of respiratory infections. The lower the air quality inside your home, the higher the risk.
Over-insulating happens whenever homeowners have the best intentions but without the proper training. Instead of using measurements and calculations to determine how many inches of insulation needed, too many homeowners just guess. While a thick blanket of insulation may seem just right, you may find yourself with an over-insulated mess on your hands. And trust us, you don’t want to deal with a humid, moist attic later down the road.
Add Just the Right Amount
Unless you have the proper training, it’s nearly impossible to estimate how much insulation you need for your attic. Using too little will raise your energy bill, and too much may reduce your indoor air quality. Instead of playing the guessing game, it’s best to have your attic insulation installed by a professional contractor.
The professionals will evaluate the size and shape of your attic to determine how much insulation you need. There’s no guesswork involved. You can trust a skilled contractor to use the right amount and right type of insulation to improve the climate inside your attic and home. They will also remove any damaged insulation and replace it with someone of a higher quality. The sooner you have your attic inspected, the sooner your home will be ready for any weather situation.
Your Home Experts® offers attic insulation removal and installation services. Our team will make sure you have enough insulation to keep your home comfortable during spring, summer, fall, and winter. Give us a call to schedule a complete attic inspection to make sure your home has enough insulation.