What Every Homeowner Should Know About Their Attic Insulation

Every home is different, but some aspects of a house remain the same regardless of size, location, style or age. For example, there’s some type of insulation in every home. While many homeowners don’t think attic insulation in Sacramento, CA matters much, that’s not the case. In fact, the insulation in your attic plays a crucial role in maintaining a comfortable environment within your home.

Five facts about the insulation in your attic

As a responsible homeowner, you want to learn as much as you can about insulation for the attic in Sacramento, CA. The more you know, the better you can notice insulation problems that require repair or replacement. But why is insulation in your attic so important? Here’s why:

  • R-value: Most importantly, you want to know the R-value for your attic insulation in Sacramento, CA. This is the value that tells you how well an insulating material resists heat flow. For a home with an uninsulated attic in our part of the country, you want insulation with an R-value of R-38 to R-60. For an attic with three to four inches of existing insulation, look for materials with an R-38 value.
  • Different types of insulation: You likely have any one of these three types of insulation in your attic: fiberglass batts, spray foam or blown-in cellulose. To determine the right insulation for your attic, you need to consider whether there’s already insulation in your attic, the layout of your attic and your budget. You’ll want to speak with an insulation contractor to figure out what materials make the most sense for your space.
  • Insulation isn’t just for the winter: There’s a common misconception that homes only require insulation in colder climates or during the winter months. Actually, insulation doesn’t just keep your house warm during the winter, but also cool during the summer. Ultimately, insulation maintains the internal temperature of your home, whether that’s warm or cold. Maintaining insulation ensures your HVAC system doesn’t have to work overtime to cool or heat your home.
  • Poorly-insulated homes: Did you know the United States Department of Energy estimates that 90 percent of American homes don’t have sufficient insulation? There’s a number of ways to determine if the insulation in your attic needs replacement. For instance, you shouldn’t be able to see the floor joists in your attic. Also, the ceiling in the rooms just beneath the attic shouldn’t feel warm during the summer or cold during the winter.
  • There’s no asbestos in new insulation: Before 1990, contractors installed the Zonolite brand of insulation in many buildings across the country. This type of insulation may have contained asbestos. However, new insulation materials don’t contain asbestos and won’t put you and your family at risk.

If you live in a home built before 1990 and you have concerns about asbestos in the insulation in your attic in Sacramento, CA, get in touch with us today. As an expert insulation specialist, we know how to safely remove hazardous insulation materials with asbestos and install new attic insulation.

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