What is attic insulation?
Have you ever crawled into your attic and seen pink cotton stuff all over the floor up there? That’s fiberglass batt insulation, and it’s one of the most common types of attic insulation.
There are plenty of different types of attic insulation, including spray-in foam and blown-in fiberglass. They all have advantages and disadvantages, but fiberglass batt is found in most residential homes.
Regardless of what type you have, the main goal is to keep heat and cold from coming into or leaving your home.
R-value is the measurement of how well attic insulation insulates. This is based on the insulation material, type, how old it is, etc. We always recommend between R-38 and R-49 for homes down here in the Texas heat. Of course, as the insulation ages, that value will decrease, but more on that later.
Why do you need it?
As mentioned, your attic insulation stabilizes the temperature within your home.
During the summertime, the hot Texas sun beats down on your roof, creating a hot pocket of heat within your attic. If you’ve ever been in your attic in the summer, you’ll know exactly how hot that is.
That heat would otherwise transfer to your home if it weren’t for the insulation.
When it’s cold out, your furnace heats your home to keep you warm from the frigid air outside. Since heat rises, the heat would undoubtedly leave your home through the roof; however, attic insulation prevents the heat from transferring out of your home.
So your attic insulation does its job year-round to help keep you comfortable within your home.
Benefits of attic insulation.
The most significant benefit of having good attic insulation is the energy efficiency you get from it. Everyone wants to save some money. Having good attic insulation is a great way to do so.
Sure, old or cheap insulation will prevent some heat transfer in and out of your home, but it won’t do an excellent job.
When your attic insulation isn’t doing a good enough job, your furnace or air conditioning must work even harder to maintain a stabilized temperature. And, as you know, the harder your air conditioner works, the more energy it uses, the more money it costs you.
If you’re seeing high energy bills, you might want to take a closer look at your attic insulation. Most professional installation specialists will come out to your home and assess your current situation and give you an estimate for replacement.
How long does attic insulation last?
By some estimates, fiberglass batt insulation will last around 100 years. It seems incredible, right? However, it breaks down and starts losing its R-value well before that; in some cases, approximately 15 years.
As the insulation settles over time, it becomes less effective. Once a very efficient R-49 becomes an R-40, then R-30 over time if you were to measure the R-value.
Other factors can affect the insulation’s R-value, such as water leaks, critters, mold, and people stepping on it. These things cause the fiberglass to be less effective, resulting in a lower R-value.
Tips for maintaining your current insulation or replacing it if necessary.
You want to maintain your insulation to keep your energy bills low, but how do you do that?
Here are some practical tips you can do to maintain your insulation in top shape-
- Never walk on it – When someone steps on attic insulation, their weight will compress the fiberglass and reduce its R-value. Most attics have plywood walkways for moving about the attic; use that if you have to move around.
- Don’t store stuff on it – Your attic is perfect storage for excess belongings and Christmas decor, but don’t put all of those things on the insulation. Just like walking around, it will compress the insulation. Store your stuff in the plywood areas if you must store items in the attic.
- Fix leaks as soon as possible – Over time, your roof might spring a few leaks. It happens. But if you want your insulation to last, be sure to have those leaks repaired as soon as possible. The water will reduce the lifespan of the insulation.
- Prevent critters from rummaging – Nobody wants animals in their attic anyways, so it’s a good practice to place a few traps up there to stop them in their tracks. As rodents dig through the insulation, they reduce the R-value, so preventing them from rummaging will extend the life of your insulation.
There are instances where the insulation is just too old, and it’s time to replace it. If you’ve been following the tips above and it is still pretty old, you might want to consider a replacement. It’s not as expensive as you might think and usually takes a few hours for a professional installer to get your energy efficiency back to normal.
Final thoughts on the life of attic insulation.
Attic insulation is a vital part of your home’s energy efficiency. By understanding how long it lasts, you can maintain or replace it as needed to keep your furnace and air conditioning from working overtime.
To prevent the insulation’s life expectancy from being reduced, be sure to follow our tips for maintaining attic insulation in tip-top shape. If all else fails and you want to have an expert come out for a professional estimate before replacing anything yourself, reach out! Our team would love nothing more than to help make your home more efficient.