Properly insulating your attic is important. In fact, a well-insulated attic means you'll get better performance from your HVAC system. That being said, there's a lot of misinformation about attic insulation. Before you insulate your attic, here are some things you need to know.
Myth #1: Warm Weather Climates Don't Need Attic Insulation
When most people hear the word "insulation," they automatically think of heat and trapping it inside their homes. For this reason, it makes sense why people are confused and believe that homes in warm weather climates don't need attic insulation. However, insulation acts as a barrier to heat too. While it keeps the heat from escaping your home, it also keeps hot air in your attic from backing up into the home during the summer months. If you live in a warmer area, such as Georgia, shop for insulation levels that fall between R-30 and R-60.
Myth #2: A Well-insulated Attic Prevents Seal Leaks
Insulation is great, but it can't protect against seal leaks alone. However, there are some types of insulation that do a better job at this than others. For example, sprayed foam is a good insulator and sealer. To make sure your attic is properly sealed, though, what you really need is to make sure a separate vapor barrier is installed. In older homes, this barrier might have started to fall apart, or it may never have been installed in the first place. If you're concerned about losing energy due to a leaky attic, check your attic to see what the condition of the vapor barrier is.
Myth #3: Insulating Is All You Need to Improve HVAC
Wouldn't that be nice? Unfortunately, attic insulation isn't a miracle cure for your HVAC's poor performance. While it does help your HVAC system run more efficiently, insulation works best when you take additional steps to improve the heating and cooling efficiency in your home. Consider the following questions to help you continue to increase the HVAC system's efficiency:
- Have you had your ductwork cleaned lately? Dirty ductwork or ductwork that has loose seals isn't doing you any favors.
- Do you leave window shades open in the sunniest part of the house? Consider closing your drapes in these areas of the house to keep excessive heat out of the home.
- How old is your HVAC system? Older systems use more energy.
- Are your windows drafty and old? Replacing old, single-pane windows with new, energy-efficient double-pane windows is a great way to improve your home's HVAC system.
- Is your roof falling apart? Damaged roofs are doing you no favors. Get this damage repaired as soon as possible.
Do you still have questions about attic insultation and HVAC efficiency? Are you in need of roof repair in Marietta, GA? When you need help keeping the energy in your home from escaping out the roof, contact the local professionals who know what to do. Give Findlay Roofing a call today to schedule an appointment with a roofing and insulation professional.
