Common Misconceptions: Debunking Attic Insulation Myths

8 Attic Insulation Myths

Here are eight typical attic insulation myths we’re debunking today. 

1. Vapor Barriers Trap Moisture

If your home has moisture coming from your attic’s condensation or leak, it can damage your attic insulation. A vapor barrier is a sheet material that protects your insulation from moisture. However, unlike standard plastic sheeting, vapor barriers allow water to evaporate.

Vapor barriers can also help prevent mold and mildew from growing, protect the structure of your home, and prolong the life of batt insulation. 

2. You Only Need Attic Insulation for Colder Months

Insulation can help retain the heat in your home during those winter months and reduce the need to overwork your HVAC system and heat your home. However, it can also slow radiant heat, keeping your home cool during summer and preventing your HVAC from overworking to keep the home’s desired temperature and air from escaping through the attic. 

In addition to lowering your heating costs, an attic with sufficient attic insulation and proper ventilation can prevent unwanted ice damming from forming on your roof during colder months. 

3. More Insulation is Always Better

Exceeding guidelines when topping up your attic insulation isn’t bad. However, it can be harmful if there’s too much. keep in mind that it’s essential to have proper ventilation in your attic. You’ll have regulated heat and moisture in your attic with adequate ventilation.

To have the most energy efficiency with your attic insulation, you can contact our professionals at Master Attic. 

4. Areas With Warm Weather Don’t Need Attic Insulation

Homeowners living in warm areas often think they don’t need attic insulation. Even though it’s warm outside, it doesn’t mean you don’t need insulation. The primary role of insulation in your home is to regulate temperatures. As your attic becomes warmer during the summer, insulation can prevent hot air from making its way into the comfortable areas of your home. Regulating the temperature is important for a homes structure as well to avoid overheating, and prevent smells, moisture, rotting, rodents, and insects. 

5. Attic Insulation Doesn’t Make a Difference

During the winter, having a drafty home can make your floors colder and areas of your home colder. When you add attic insulation to your home, you’ll avoid those problems. Adding insulation can allow you to regulate the temperature of your HVAC and comfortably walk around your home without dealing with cold floors, drafts, high energy bills, bad smells, condensation, and moisture issues. 

Attic insulation can also prevent ice dams from forming, resulting from no insulation. Heat can leak through your roof without insulation, causing snow to melt and rain to refreeze in your gutters. With reduced cooling costs, you can make your home more comfortable during the summer and winter. 

6. Attic Insulation Can Cause Fires in Your Home

With any home improvement project, there’s always the risk of damages occurring in your home, and insulation is no exception. An experienced and licensed professional can mitigate many problems in these areas. Using an unlicensed professional is the primary reason for damages if an unqualified professional installs your attic insulation.

Although not used by our Master Attic professionals, cellulose insulation has ignited in the past, when installed by an unlicensed professional. Having a certified professional install your insulation can eliminate those risks. 

Safety in Heating Your Home

Knowing fire safety is essential to prevent a home fire if you’re dealing with insulation issues. Even though it continued to trend downward over the last forty years, in 2021, heating fires were the second-leading cause of home fires. Fire departments within the United States reported receiving over thirty-two thousand reports of home heating fires.

To prevent home heating fires, homeowners can take the proper precautions to ensure their homes and loved ones remain safe. To prevent home heating fires, you can do the following:

• Keep objects at least three feet away from heated areas, such as fire stoves, fireplaces, radiators, or space heaters.
• Don’t use an oven to heat your home.
• Turn off space heaters when you’re not at home or asleep.
• Have your heating equipment and vents routinely inspected by a professional
• Make sure your air ducts are cleaned out at least every two years. 

7. An Insulated Attic Can Prevent Leaks

An insulated attic is an excellent way to keep your home warm and cool; however, it can’t prevent leaks. Some types of insulation can slow a leak but not stop it completely. Air gap sealing your attic along with new insulation is required. 

If you’re worried about losing energy due to leaks in your attic, you should inspect the condition of your insulation and air gap sealing. 

8. Attic Insulation Lasts Forever

If you’ve had insulation for a while, over time, it can begin to degrade and become damaged depending on the condition of your attic. All insulation materials have their lifespan and degrade after the completed life span of 15-25 years. A professional conducting routine inspection and maintenance can ensure your insulation remains in the best condition. 

Why You Should Choose Master Attic for Your Attic Insulation

At Master Attic, our professionals specialize in professional insulation installation and removal. We only use the best, high-quality materials with every project. When scheduling your project with Master Attic, our professionals will conduct an assessment, provide a free estimate and schedule the project with one of our in-house crews. 

At Master Attic, we understand the importance of proper insulation in your home. We pride ourselves in providing services to New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. Our main goal is to make your home energy efficient and to make your home as comfortable as possible.

If you need attic insulation, call us today for a free estimate.