How To Improve Attic Insulation

Your roof vents may not look.

How to improve attic insulation. If you don t see any attic vents on the roof or in the eaves you need to add some. Venting an attic allows outdoor air. To install it just lay it across the joists. Use energy efficient attic fans to regulate your home climate.

When adding additional insulation you do not have to use the same type of insulation that currently exists in your attic. You can add loose fill on top of fiberglass batts or blankets and vice versa. Some insulation batts display their r value in plain print so they re easy to find. If you use fiberglass over loose fill make sure the fiberglass batt has no paper or foil backing.

Keep adding layers until you get to r 38. Add foam to the edges to keep it air sealed. It needs to be unfaced. Install energy efficient ventilation to improve air circulation in your attic.

Insulation remains the single best way to improve attic efficiency. Here s how to keep the air moving with soffit vents. Touch your ceiling on a warm sunny day. Look at your eaves and roof.

There are a few quick tests that can help homeowners decide if they need more insulation. Butt a cardboard template against the fascia and mark your soffit hole locations to begin. Energy star recommends performing a touch test on the ceilings. Add soffit venting first.

Otherwise you ll need to grab a ruler and place it into the insulation pressing gently down to the surface. A hot ceiling tells you that the attic is acting like a solar oven raising your cooling bills and. Attic fans are a good option for regulating your. Since warm air has a tendency to rise and cool air to fall insulating the attic is the place to start.

Homes built before the 1970s may lack proper attic insulation or contain gaps between the joists or rafters. If the attic is used as a living space say a home office or play room the insulation should be placed between the rafters. Always cover the tops of the ceiling joists to make sure the insulation is deep enough to reach your target r value and. If you already have six inches of insulation and you want to get to the recommended r 38 add an attic blanket it s also made of fiberglass but it has no paper backing.

Measure first before you stick it onto the attic door with tape. A well ventilated attic offers four benefits. It prevents mildew growth and rot on your roof s framing and sheathing by. The higher the r value the more effective the insulation.

The best way to insulate attic doors is to make a pillow made of insulation batting. More insulation installation tricks and tips work from the perimeter of the attic toward the door or hatch so that you don t trample all over the insulation you just. If the attic is unfinished the insulation should be installed on the floor.