How Often To Add Insulation To Attic

How often should attic insulation be replaced.

How often to add insulation to attic.

R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat flow. How often do i need to replace insulation in my attic. The answer depends on where you live. In older homes there s a chance your attic insulation has never been replaced and could be badly degraded.

Foam insulation can settle after a year and may need to be replaced to keep it fluffy and insulating properly. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Standard insulation starts to degrade and start peeling from walls after about 15 years. Insulation begins to degrade in quality and effectiveness at around the 15 year mark.

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. 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. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type. Insulation levels are specified by r value.

These insulation levels will keep heated air from migrating out in winter. But many homeowners i talk with don t know how much is enough. 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. Typically houses in warm weather states should have an r 38 insulation in the attic whereas houses in cold climates should have r 49.

If you have an older home chances are the attic insulation is the same insulation that was installed when the house was built.