How Often To Add Attic Insulation

Inspect the exterior walls by using an electrical outlet.

How often to add attic insulation.

While some insulation is built to last years there are times when you need to replace your insulation or add on more insulation to it. We typically work through and seal the attic bypasses with the existing insulation in place olson says. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type. When adding additional insulation you do not have to use the same type of insulation that currently exists in your.

If you have an older home chances are the attic insulation is the same insulation that was installed when the house was built. Remove the outlet cover and shine a flashlight into the crack around the outlet box. Add the right kind of insulation. Typically houses in warm weather states should have an r 38 insulation in the attic whereas houses in cold climates should have r 49.

It s a diy project you can tackle in a weekend and the savings you ll get add up every year says toh general contractor tom silva. The pros charge 1 500 to 2 000 to do a 1 200 sq ft. But if you ve got an unfinished attic giving it proper insulation is one of the simplest ways to keep a lid on your heating bill this season. You should be able to see if there is insulation in the wall.

In older homes there s a chance your attic insulation has never been replaced and could be badly degraded. If you ve never had your insulation checked out before it s time to get it done. Insulation begins to degrade in quality and effectiveness at around the 15 year mark. How often do i need to replace insulation in my attic.

You ll know it needs to be replaced if there are insulation leaks or if it is peeling from the walls. Turn off the power to the outlet. Pull out a small amount of insulation if needed to help. These insulation levels will keep heated air from migrating out in winter.

The department of energy estimates that a properly insulated attic can shave 10 to 50 percent off your heating bill. How much does attic insulation cost. The answer depends on where you live. How often should attic insulation be replaced.

Insulation should also be replaced in some cases sooner than 15 years if it is no longer doing its job properly. 0but olson says in many cases the old insulation does not need to be removed which keeps costs down. You can do it yourself for about 500. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.

Foam insulation can settle after a year and may need to be replaced to keep it fluffy and insulating properly. Blown in insulation overview.