Attic insulation resists heat transfer between the attic overhead and living quarters of your home. Since it basically transfers from warmer to a much cooler zone, heat is usually moving the opposite direction for maximum household efficiency as well as comfort. During the winter months, heat energy in warm portions of the house rises and penetrates into the attic through direct air leaks, or by conduction or radiation. The outcome would be the furnace operates longer to compensate for lost warmth and because of this, heating costs increase significantly. In summer, on the other hand, an overhead attic constantly radiates heat into areas below, making the air conditioning units operate extended hours and as a result, cooling bills climb. 

Attic Insulation Benefits 

If your house was constructed before 1980, it might well be under-insulated by the current efficiency standards. Other advantages include comprehensive service life of furnaces and air conditioning units. Since the heating and cooling load of a home is decreased by correct proper insulation, HVAC unit operates fewer number of hours to keep comfortable temperatures, incurring less damage and wear and tear. In addition to that, decreased consumption of fuel would also mean less participation to greenhouse gases and a lesser carbon footprint as well. 

 Choice of Attic Insulation 

How well insulation withstands and deflects heat is being represented by the base R-value per inch. Usually, the overall recommended R-value is expressed as the installed depth in inches multiplied by the base R-value. Home attic insulation is basically dominated by 2 materials such as cellulose and fiberglass batteries. 

 Cellulose is a loose-fill component made of ground-up paper as well as cloth treated for fire-resistance. As a matter of fact, cellulose should be blown into spaces of the attic under air pressure by big hoses. However, the loose-gill composition gives outstanding coverage because it can be blown in every small cranny and nook.  

Fiberglass batteries, on the other hand, are actually blankets of wooly fiberglass components, commonly stacked in rolls in the middle of the house. They come in pre-cut in order to fit nicely in a 14.5-inch standard spacing between joists in the attic flooring. In a home attic with plenty of access, fiberglass batts are certainly the suggested DIY attic insulation upgrade. 

Making an Air Barrier 

Even though if you opt to have an expert and professional install your home attic insulation, you can still expedite the procedure by sealing air leakages yourself prior, and use a foam sealant. Use caulking to close all cracks in between the joints of walls and ceiling which might exchange air with your attic. Seal also any gaps around the pipes where they come inside the attic from ventilation ducts and living spaces. You should make sure that the terminated ceiling lights are the fresher variety rated insulated ceiling and also, can be safely screen with attic insulation. Furthermore, caulk around the corners of the light fixture. Then, check your weather stripping around your pull-down stairs or the attic access hatch.