Attic Insulation: Everything You Need to Know

When your attic lacks sufficient insulation, you’ll find it difficult to stay comfortable and you’ll pay higher-than-necessary heating and cooling bills. For maximum energy efficiency in this climate zone, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends insulating your attic floor to R-60.

How Much Attic Insulation Do You Need to Add?

If your home is like many others in the Middletown area, it has some insulation already in place on the attic floor. If you can see the attic floor joists, though, you don’t have enough. To tell exactly how much R-value to add, you need to determine what’s already there. This isn’t difficult to do – just extend a tape measure in between the joists until it hits the attic floor. Then, measure to the top of the installed insulation. Now, simply multiply that figure by:

• 2.5 if you have loose fiberglass
• 3.2 if fiberglass batt is installed
• 3.7 if you have loose cellulose

Once you have that number, deduct it from 60 and this is the R-value you need to install. It’s important to know that you don’t have to use the same type of insulation that’s already in place, as long as you reach a total of R-60.

Types of Insulation Commonly Installed in Attics

You can install either of the following types of insulation on your attic floor, but be sure to start at the perimeter and work toward the access hatch so it doesn’t get compacted:

• Loose fill. This insulation is usually blown in with a machine, and it’s available in a choice of fiberglass or fire retardant-treated cellulose. Loose fill works well in attics with hard-to-access areas or numerous obstructions, but it needs to be distributed evenly.
• Rolled batt. Fiberglass batts are available in different widths so you can choose one that matches the width between your attic joists. If there’s already a layer of batt insulation installed, run the new layer in a perpendicular direction so the top of the joists can be covered.

For help determining whether your Middletown home has enough attic insulation, contact us today at C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York 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 Guide or call us at 845-367-4482.

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