Attic Insulation Facts

With the baltimore area s humid summers and unpredictable winters good weatherization is essential for reliable comfort.

Attic insulation facts.

In most homes but especially in older homes adding insulation in the attic will cut heat loss. Your options for attic insulation range from radiant barriers to sheets of mineral wool but most homeowners stick with products made from cellulose or fiberglass. Insulation materials run the gamut from bulky fiber materials such as fiberglass rock and slag wool cellulose and natural fibers to rigid foam boards to sleek foils. The rapid growth of sprayed foam insulation in building construction thanks in part to its immediate and long term.

Attic insulation facts if you want to know what every homeowner should know about attic insulation read on to learn more. Check with the local building department to find the recommended level for your area or visit energysavers gov. At a minimum homes should have attic insulation between r 22 and r 49 6 to 13 in. Insulate your attic to the recommended level including the attic door or hatch cover.

Blown in spray foam batts and blankets. This is a powered attic ventilation fan. Rigid foam boards trap air or another gas to resist conductive heat flow. Because insulation plays a major role in your home s weatherization knowing some basic facts about insulation can help you stay more comfortable and lower your energy bills year round.

We offer our review of the three most popular types of attic insulation with a look at each one s pros and cons. Bulky materials resist conductive and to a lesser degree convective heat flow in a building cavity. The earliest form of insulation was during the middle ages when the walls of homes were stuffed with mud and straw to keep out the cold. Provide the recommended level of insulation under floors above unheated spaces around walls in a heated basement or unventilated crawl space and on the edges of slabs on grade.

It is not often we do this but the following is quoted from a very helpful article that first appeared in the washington post in july 2017. If it doesn t have excellent intake air around the soffits it can actually vacuum air from inside your home. Of loose fill or 7 to 19 in. Asbestos insulation originated in ancient greece.

Where to insulate insulate your attic outer walls and crawl space first as these areas have the most heat transfer. Powered attic fans attic insulation facts kitchen ventilation text. Here are some fun facts about insulation from our heating and cooling service company.