Are You Wondering if Your Attic Has Enough Insulation?

St Louis - St Charles Insulation Company.

Do I have Enough Insulation?

As the biggest open space in your home, your attic is the most difficult place to keep temperature-regulated. Chilly attics are due to improper insulation, allowing heat to escape to the outdoors from the upper floor. This translates to increased heating costs as well as energy usage.

The U.S. Department of Energy says that most attics should have more insulation than they actually do. In fact, about 90 percent of homes in this country are under-insulated. Having not enough insulation is a preventable cause of lost heat during winter. But if you take steps to insulate your attic properly, you could enjoy a heating bill savings of 10 to 50 percent each winter.

Insulation Considerations For Missouri

So how do you know if your attic has enough insulation?

Basically, insulation is measured with R-value, which is the thickness of your insulation. Your recommended R-value will depend on your climate. Homes in the south don’t need as much insulation as homes in New England, for example. The age of your home will also play a role.

Grab a ruler and head up to the attic. Measure the height from the floor to the top of your insulation. Older homes usually have four to five inches of insulation (R-15) which is not enough for heat preservation. The DOE says homes in the south should have at least 13 to 14 inches of insulation (R-38), while northern homes should have at least 16 to 18 inches of insulation (R-49).

If your insulation level comes up short, you may want to add some.

Best Insulation Methods

This is subjective and will depend a lot on your existing insulation type as well as budget.

Loose-fill insulation: These are small bits of insulation that you can blow into spaces in your attic, creating layers to improve heat retention. This type fills gaps, joints, and corners very well.
Batting: Best for standard joist spacing, this type of insulation is not as good for attics with obstructions. Batting doesn’t give you a vapor barrier either, although it is relatively easy to install.
Spray foam: This offers zero heat loss and offers a moisture barrier but it’s very tricky and costly to install. These installations may off-gas toxic poisons.

DIY Insulation or Professional?

Like any other home improvement project, it’s always recommended that you hire a professional insulation contractor in St. Louis MO to handle this. There are some things you can do on your own, such as measure your insulation and gather your heating bills to check for higher than normal energy bills.

But when it comes to installation, hire a pro who can bring the right materials, equipment and safety gear to get the job done right.

Insulation in St louis & St Charles MO

For a home visit and free quote on attic insulation replacement, contact us at 636-233-7314. We can determine the R-value of your current insulation and recommend the proper amount to add. Insulating homes in O'Fallon, Wentzville, to St Louis

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