Energy Saving Tips Insulation Tips Consider factors such as your climate, building design, and budget when selecting insulation R-values for your home.
Use higher density insulation on exterior walls, such as rigid foam boards, in cathedral ceilings and on exterior walls.
Ventilation helps with moisture control and reducing summer cooling bills. Attic vents can be installed along the entire ceiling cavity to help ensure proper airflow from the soffit to the attic to make a home more comfortable and energy efficient. Do not ventilate your attic if you have insulation on the underside of the roof. Check with a qualified contractor.
Recessed light fixtures can be a major source of heat loss, but you need to be careful how close you place insulation next to a fixture unless it is marked IC—designed for direct insulation contact. Check your local building codes for recommendations.
As specified on the product packaging, follow the product instructions on installation and wear the proper protective gear when installing insulation.
Long-Term Savings Tip One of the most cost-effective ways to make your home more comfortable year-round is to add insulation to your attic.
Adding insulation to the attic is relatively easy and very cost effective. To find out if you have enough attic insulation, measure the thickness of the insulation. If it is less than R-30 the you will benefit by additional insulation. How to tell R-30 if you have fiberglass it will be 11 inches and Cellulose will be 8 inches. Don't forget the attic trap or access door needs insulation or a tent cover.
Now you have checked the insulation but your house is still feels drafty and cold in the winter or too warm in the summer? You may need to look at other areas of your home. You may need wall or floor insulation to help keep the cold and heat out. Wall insulation is a more expensive measure that usually requires a contractor, but it may be worth the cost if you live in a very hot or cold climate. If you are looking at replacing your exterior siding on your home, you should consider adding insulation at the same time. Insulating the crawl space under your home is also another area that will help reduce the penatration of warm and cold temperatures.
