Determine Need For Attic Insulation

R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat flow.

Determine need for attic insulation.

Common signs of problems with insulation. There are four especially common signs of problems with attic insulation. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type. Department of energy it s recommended that attics have an r 38 to r 49 or about 12 to 15 of fiberglass or cellulose insulation.

If your insulation level is at or below the top of the floor joists you probably need to add more insulation but remember to seal the air leaks before you insulate. In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60. Click the button to calculate the amount of insulation in square feet and man hours wall and ceiling fiberglass insulation needed for this job. Let s say the insulation you ve selected has an r value of three per inch and.

The correct amount can help maintain a comfortable temperature and save money. A quick way to see if you need more insulation is to look across your attic floor. Choose your insulation type and material 1. Use unfaced insulation when adding more insulation to an attic that already has some insulation laying the rolls or batts at right angles to the floor joists.

However there are a few easy things you can do to see if your attic is properly insulated. Insulation levels are specified by r value. If you think you re among the 90 of us homes that are under insulated 1 performing a simple insulation inspection will help you determine your insulation needs. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.

Loose fill insulation fibers are packaged in bags and blown in place to the desired depth and density using special. If you notice one or more of these occurring you probably need to take action. In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49. If you can t see the joists because the insulation is above them then you should measure the insulation depth with a ruler to see if you have enough.

Input length and width of area to be insulated. To view the next video in this series click here. Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.