Your Birmingham-area home is too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. You call your HVAC guy and consider upgrading your entire heating and cooling system. But have you stopped to think about what your attic insulation looks like? Attic insulation can make a huge difference in your home.
Does Attic Insulation Make a Big Difference?
Attic insulation is often inadequate for today’s climate extremes. The federal Energy Star program’s insulation map shows Alabama in tier 3, meaning your attic should have R30 to R60 insulation between the joists. Many Alabama and Tennessee homes don’t have that much insulation.
Some homes may have no insulation at all! In which case, expert installation of fluffy Owens Corning’s AttiCat® Blown-in Insulation will make a huge difference! When blown-in insulation is added to an attic, you can expect:
- Lower energy bills
- Increased interior air quality
- No cold spots or hot areas in rooms
- Fewer drafts
- A decreased chance of mold and mildew
Even if your attic has three to four inches of insulation, it could have more. Adding R25 to R38 of soft, long-lasting blown-in insulation will boost your home’s energy efficiency. When insulation is blown-in instead of unrolled, it reaches every nook and cranny, providing a comforting blanket of protection.
Places Where Insulation Is Used
Attic insulation should be between the horizontal wood members of your attic, the joists. This provides a barrier between the attic (where the air should match outside conditions) and your interior living space. Attic insulation can also be applied over the joists to increase your thermal barrier.
Some insulation is rolled out in batts, but effective insulation is blown in so it reaches all the tiny areas where air can flow from your living space upward. Elsewhere in your home, insulation is effective:
- Inside your exterior walls
- Around windows and doors
- Around electrical outlets
- Between attached garage and home
Most insulation is used to make a thermal barrier, but it also serves to muffle sounds. Some homes have insulation in interior walls for this purpose. The most crucial place for insulation, however, is in your attic. Please contact us today at Yellowhammer Roofing in Birmingham and avoid another day of high energy bills, hot or drafty rooms, and the risk of mold and mildew in your attic. We can provide attic insulation services as well as shingle roof repair or replacement.
