Insulating Your Attic With Blown Insulation Can Save You Big MoneyOne of the most important factors to home comfort is your homes insulation. Missing or inadequate insulation is a problem commonly seen during a home inspection. Insulation prevents high energy usage saving you money. It also prevents problems with mold, condensation, and moisture intrusion problems. The cost of updating or upgrading your insulation can easily be paid back over time in energy efficiency and energy savings. Certain types of insulation like attic insulation are easy to install and very cost effective. Trying to insulate your finished walls or replacing windows for a better insulating value are much more difficult and much less cost effective.
One of the most cost effective insulation solutions is adding attic insulation. There are several types of attic insulation which include blown insulation, batt insulation, and insulation blanket type material. Blown insulation is very easy to install and almost any home owner willing to put forth a little effort can accomplish it in around 4 hours. The only supplies needed are the blown insulation and an insulation blower machine. Many stores offer insulation blower machine rental for a fee. Some stores and some insulation products such as Attic Cat insulation material provides fora free rental with a minimum purchase of insulation material. The installation of the insulation is relatively easy. It involves setting up and plugging in the machine in your yard. Then you'll need to find someone to add insulation material to the machine. Run the hose from the machine to the attic access and you'll need to blow the insulation into the attic. It's really that simple. It can be a little messy and involve some physical effort. For around $500 you can add a significant amount of insulation to your attic. Paying a professional to do the same thing for you will run $2000 or more. The cost of insulation can often be tax deductible. In Wisconsin, the recommended insulation for an attic is R49 to R60. That equates to about 16.5 to 20 inches of blown insulation in the attic. The insulation depth is measured from the attic floor. Depending on how much insulation you currently have, you would need to factor that in to the number of inches of additional insulation you would need. Websites such for Owens Corning Attic Cat and Energy Star provide information on insulation recommendations.
2 Comments
It's great to know that the installation of insulation would usually be easy by just plugging in the machine needed and setting it up before using. I guess the blown-in attic insulation services that I need for my new home can be finished in no time. We just need it done before we move in for our comfort since the area we will settle down into is quite cold even in the summertime.
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AuthorBob Carter is a home inspector in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. He is the owner of Dairyland Home Inspection. Archives
June 2021
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