How Often To Add Attic Insulation

Insulation should also be replaced in some cases sooner than 15 years if it is no longer doing its job properly.

How often to add attic insulation. When adding additional insulation you do not have to use the same type of insulation that currently exists in your. You can do it yourself for about 500. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type. Standard insulation starts to degrade and start peeling from walls after about 15 years.

Insulation begins to degrade in quality and effectiveness at around the 15 year mark. While some insulation is built to last years there are times when you need to replace your insulation or add on more insulation to it. We typically work through and seal the attic bypasses with the existing insulation in place olson says. Foam insulation can settle after a year and may need to be replaced to keep it fluffy and insulating properly.

But if you ve got an unfinished attic giving it proper insulation is one of the simplest ways to keep a lid on your heating bill this season. How often do i need to replace insulation in my attic. Typically houses in warm weather states should have an r 38 insulation in the attic whereas houses in cold climates should have r 49. Turn off the power to the outlet.

The pros charge 1 500 to 2 000 to do a 1 200 sq ft. In older homes there s a chance your attic insulation has never been replaced and could be badly degraded. Add the right kind of insulation. Blown in insulation overview.

0but olson says in many cases the old insulation does not need to be removed which keeps costs down. If you have an older home chances are the attic insulation is the same insulation that was installed when the house was built. The department of energy estimates that a properly insulated attic can shave 10 to 50 percent off your heating bill. Inspect the exterior walls by using an electrical outlet.

If you ve never had your insulation checked out before it s time to get it done. You ll know it needs to be replaced if there are insulation leaks or if it is peeling from the walls. These insulation levels will keep heated air from migrating out in winter. If you need to add insulation in your attic save big by blowing in cellulose insulation yourself.

How often should attic insulation be replaced. It s a diy project you can tackle in a weekend and the savings you ll get add up every year says toh general contractor tom silva. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. How much does attic insulation cost.

The answer depends on where you live. Pull out a small amount of insulation if needed to help.