Attic Insulation Tips and Advice

Find out why attic insulation is so important.
Lots of people do not know this, but attic insulation represents a highly effective technique to dramatically cut the energy bills of your household. Energy saving constitutes a truly hot and argued topic in our present days, both amid regular people and in the media. Attic insulation is an affordable and extremely effective solution, especially when you can not afford expensive eco-friendly appliances.

Therefore, let us begin with one of the most fundamental laws of Physics: warm air always rises above cold air. This is precisely why lack of attic insulation will cause for the hot air to rise up from the room and get directly away through the roof. And this is exactly where attic insulation comes into play. It will stop hot air from leaking out and it will really cut back the operating time of your furnace.

Probably the best-selling type of attic insulation is fiberglass batt insulation. This type of insulation is in fact what nearly everyone visualizes in their mind's eye when imagining attic insulation. Fiberglass batts are actually long strips which can be colored in pink or yellow. In addition to the fact that this specific insulation type is extremely easy to install, the R-value of batts can vary a lot, a thing that constitutes an advantage too, because you must customize your particular insulation's R-value taking the advisable value of your area into consideration. The choice of incorporating or not incorporating a vapor barrier is completely yours.

Secondly, another very popular choice is the cellulose attic insulation. It has a noteworthy advantage over the fiberglass batts, the fact that it is a lot less expensive. Still, there's a catch to it: regular people can not install this insulation themselves, and often professional assistance is needed. This fact slightly increases the price of its installation. Cellulose is a loose material that gets blown inside the attic, coating even the tiniest hole or gap. The ideal installation is a homogenous blanket. Also, if you care for the environment, you will be glad to know that cellulose is an environment friendly solution, since cellulose is actually made from reprocessed newspapers.

Lastly, there's a final basic insulation type, the spray foam. This particular insulation type was typically used in commercial applications, but nowadays it has become significantly more common than it used to be. This is a material that expands, and it becomes a few times larger in its expanded state. This lets it spread over every little opening and to create a really efficient insulation. It has a broad range of R-values, making it especially valuable in cold climates. This is also a type of insulation that involves professional installation, as highly specialized tools are required for the process.

So, how effective can attic insulation really be in reducing your energy bills? Honestly, it can be extremely effective, and you will really be amazed to discover that you could even pay up to 30% less for your energy bills! All you need to do is get hold of a professional who will analyze your attic and will tell you exactly what insulation type is best for your house.

By Michael Stevens
Published: 4/15/2009
 
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