
Will New Attic Insulation Save Me Money?
By David Bengio Published
There are many things you for sure do on a regular basis to save money. You probably clip digital coupons or maybe you turn off lights as you leave rooms. Or perhaps you do your best not to waste leftover food. After all, every penny counts right now!
Did you know that there are upgrades you can make in your home that will help you save money in the long run? Attic insulation is one of the unsung heroes in homes and commercial properties. It plays a huge role in the health, safety, and comfort of your home, and it can actually reduce your energy usage if installed correctly.
With all of those benefits, you might be wondering, “Will new attic insulation save me money and make the investment worth it?” Let’s break down more about what insulation does and how it can be a helpful money-saving tool below.
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What Is Attic Insulation?
If you think of insulation, your mind probably goes immediately to the classic pink sheets that are stuck between your exposed wall studs. This is called fiberglass batt insulation, and is a well-known insulation material. But in fact there are many different kinds of insulation that all serve a similar purpose in your home.
Insulation all over your home is essential to your comfort, but I would list attic insulation as especially important. The reason being is that attic insulation is a buffer between your home and the outside world. It helps keep your living spaces warm in the winter and cooler in the summer. The insulation material, often fiberglass or mineral wool, slows down energy transfer to make this all happen.
In the winter, your attic insulation keeps the warmth inside your home and encourages it to circulate for longer before moving it out of your attic space in a controlled manner. In the summer, the same insulation material blocks the heat from making its way inside your home too fast. This passive process takes the strain off your HVAC system without having to sacrifice your comfort along the way.
Signs Your Current Attic Insulation Isn’t Working
All homes should have attic insulation to help keep your family comfortable. Unfortunately, insulation is not invincible and can experience wear and tear over the years. It can also become damaged due to an external factor, like water leaks or mold.
If you have damaged insulation or if it is compromised in some way, it won’t be able to work the way it needs to. It will have a harder time regulating the temperature in your living spaces and can even start to negatively impact your indoor air quality.
If you notice any of these signs in your home, you may be dealing with an insulation problem in your attic space:
- High energy bills
- Drafts and uneven temperatures
- Ice dams in the winter
- Moisture issues
- Recurrent pest infestations
The immediate impact of old or damaged insulation will disrupt your family’s comfort, and it will eventually impact your wallet. Improper insulation will cause air leaks and drafts in your attic, and your HVAC system will have to work overtime to continually reverse these problems.
Instead of cycling on and off throughout the day, your air conditioner or furnace will be constantly consuming energy to keep you comfortable. This increased need for energy will result in unusually high energy bills, and this problem will only get worse until your insulation is replaced.
How Much Does Attic Insulation Actually Save You?
If you tend to shy away from home construction projects, you might be wondering if going through an insulation upgrade is worth the time and effort. Of course it is!
According to Energy Star, investing in new attic insulation can save you between 10-15% on energy costs. All of that extra savings goes directly back into your pocket. These savings will continue for as long as your insulation is in good shape and is working properly.
Attic Insulation and Savings
Upgrading your insulation in various parts of your home is always a good idea, but focusing on the insulation in your attic is often the best way to yield a high return on investment. Your attic plays a huge role in the comfort of your home, and the insulation up there is just as important.
As the heat from your home rises, your attic insulation helps prevent it from escaping from your home too quickly. If it does escape too fast, you will create what is called the stack effect. Cold air will rush into your home in your lower levels, heat up, and rise out of your home via your attic over and over again. This results in serious energy waste and unnecessarily high bills.
By investing in proper attic insulation, your home will become more reliable at energy control, and your living spaces will be more comfortable throughout the seasons.
Other Benefits of New Attic Insulation
In addition to the attractive benefit of saving money, new attic insulation can help you and your home in many different ways. New insulation can raise your home value and market appeal, which can make it easier (and more lucrative) to sell your home when it is time to move.
New insulation can also help with noise control. If you live in a busy urban area or simply have a large or loud family, having new insulation can help cut down on noise transfer between rooms.
Insulation can also lower your carbon footprint! If your home consumes less energy, you will directly contribute to lower fossil fuel consumption and emissions.
Installing New Attic Insulation
If you decide that installing new insulation is the way to go, utilize a professional insulation installer! They will be able to install your new insulation properly the first time, and they will follow all safety protocols from start to finish.
After the initial investment in your insulation, your new insulation will work passively without costing you money every month. Over time, you can enjoy significant energy savings as well as a more comfortable and reliable home.
Save money with new insulation! Contact the team at Master Attic today at (800) 285-4009 to learn more about our different attic insulation options.
