Your attic should have a certain amount of insulation in it and the recommended level of insulation for your attic is dependent on where you live.
What insulation for attic ceiling.
If you put an air permeable insulation material over a hole in your ceiling you may have comfort indoor air quality durability and efficiency problems.
A finished attic should be insulated much like the rest of the house with insulation in the walls and ceiling.
Inspecting your attic insulation.
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.
So it s time to pay close attention to what s happening up there.
What is the right insulation for an attic.
Insulation level are specified by r value.
Proper attic insulation is the best way to prevent heat loss in the winter and retain cool air in the summer.
Air migrates from warmer spaces toward colder spaces and insulation is designed to help prevent or at least slow that migration.
R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.
Insulate your attic outer walls and crawl space first as these areas have the most heat transfer.
The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home.
Insulate water heaters to prevent costly energy loss.
Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation.
With a finished attic insulation must help keep the attic areas comfortable.
Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.
For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices.
How to insulate a finished attic.
Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.
Before you ever get insulation anywhere near the attic though make sure that you get the air leakage sites sealed up.
Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.
Look for insulating pre cut jackets or blankets with an insulating value of at least r 8.
Adding insulation to your water heater can reduce standby heat losses by 25 to 45 percent.
That means insulating the attic floor only not the walls and having vents in the roof.
It covers specific information on attic insulation and ceiling insulation that will assist with proper installation to meet resnet grade 1 criteria for fiberglass and mineral wool batt insulation.