Determine Need For Attic Insulation

Inspecting your attic insulation will help you determine your insulation needs.

Determine need for attic insulation.

There are four especially common signs of problems with attic insulation. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat flow. Insulation levels are specified by r value. Use unfaced insulation when adding more insulation to an attic that already has some insulation laying the rolls or batts at right angles to the floor joists.

The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Let s say the insulation you ve selected has an r value of three per inch and. The correct amount can help maintain a comfortable temperature and save money. If your insulation level is at or below the top of the floor joists you probably need to add more insulation but remember to seal the air leaks before you insulate.

In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49. This calculator is to be used as an estimating tool only. According to the u s. 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.

A quick way to see if you need more insulation is to look across your attic floor. If you think you re among the 90 of us homes that are under insulated 1 performing a simple insulation inspection will help you determine your insulation needs. If you can t see the joists because the insulation is above them then you should measure the insulation depth with a ruler to see if you have enough. However there are a few easy things you can do to see if your attic is properly insulated.

Common signs of problems with insulation. If you notice one or more of these occurring you probably need to take action. Department of energy it s recommended that attics have an r 38 to r 49 or about 12 to 15 of fiberglass or cellulose insulation. Click the button to calculate the amount of insulation in square feet and man hours wall and ceiling fiberglass insulation needed for this job.

Choose your insulation type and material 1. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. To view the next video in this series click here. Input length and width of area to be insulated.