If you’re looking for a way to save on your energy bill, ensuring your attic is properly insulated is a great place to start. While air leaks can be found around unsealed windows, doors and electrical outlets, often the biggest and most important leaks are found in the attic. Air leaks compromise the efficiency of your heating and cooling system and create uncomfortable drafts. Since insulation alone will not repair leaks, they should always be sealed prior to adding more insulation.
Attic insulation is usually easy to add. Fit insulation between joists, if the attic is not insulated. If you have insulation, determine if it is close to or over the joist tops, and if so, cover joists with batts in an arrangement perpendicular to the old batts. The Energy Star guide recommends, in order to maximize efficiency, ensuring that the trap door entrance to the attic is well covered, and that the distribution of insulation is even across the entire space. If there are low spots or the insulation is sparse along the eaves, you may need to add more. If adding more insulation is necessary, you can use a different variety than is already present in your home.
The best kind of insulation to use depends on the accessibility and size of the space to be insulated, as well as how much insulation you need. Blanket insulation in the form of batts and rolls is made from mineral fibers such as fiberglass. Blown-in loose-fill insulation is made from cellulose, rock wool or fiberglass and is better for insulating irregularly shaped areas.
When comparing insulation products, take note of the R-value. R-value is a measure of the insulation’s ability to resist heat flow. The higher R-value will ensure the best protection against drops in temperature. The R-value recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy for Los Angeles and the surrounding areas in Southern California is R30-R60.
Around the Clock Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc.has been serving Los Angeles and surrounding areas since 1967. Please feel free to contact us for expert advice about improving your home’s attic insulation and energy efficiency.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about Attic Insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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