Is It Worth Adding Attic Insulation

Adding insulation to an unfinished attic is one of the most effective ways to save money on your energy bills.

Is it worth adding attic insulation.

The attic is a good place to start for two reasons it s probably the easiest place to insulate in your home and insulation in the attic area has the biggest payoff in terms of energy savings. Different types of insulation take up different amounts of. Many older homes have less insulation than homes built today but even adding insulation to a newer home can pay for itself within a few years. Also consider your increased comfort in a warmer space with fewer drafts what is that worth to you.

Insulation savings calculator use this insulation savings calculator to measure the financial impact of increasing your insulation performance. Now that you ve air sealed your attic and basement check your attic insulation levels and add more if necessary. The attic is the easiest place to add insulation to improve your comfort and the energy efficiency of your home. Even if you pay for higher quality materials upfront you are certain to recoup that money by saving on utility bills over time.

Attic insulation is one of the best investments you can make in a long term residence. 1 how long do you expect to remain in the home. There s also resale value to consider. In a cooling climate a good blanket of attic insulation helps keep the house cooler and reduces the load on air conditioning equipment.

Some factors to consider are. Enter your data into the fields where indicated. Before you call a contractor however it s important to understand the options and costs involved. Insulating your home with spray foam insulation saves the average homeowner between 15 and 50 percent on their monthly energy bills.

Typically houses in warm weather states should have an r 38 insulation in the attic whereas houses in cold climates should have r 49. Using washington as an example the energy code requires a minimum r value of 49 for attic insulation but more can be added if desired. Unless your home was specially constructed for energy efficiency you can probably reduce your energy bills by adding more insulation. If the time comes when you want to sell your home you can tout your newly insulated attic and command a better price.

These insulation levels will keep heated air from migrating out in winter.