Is It Necessary To Change Insulation In Attic

If you cannot see any of the floor joists because the insulation is well above them you probably have enough and adding more may not be cost effective.

Is it necessary to change insulation in attic.

If you have an older home chances are the attic insulation is the same insulation that was installed when the house was built. To see how to add insulation out to the eaves see installing rafter vents. 0but olson says in many cases the old insulation does not need to be removed which keeps costs down. Standard insulation starts to degrade and start peeling from walls after about 15 years.

It will need to be replaced immediately as it will lose its effectiveness to keep your home comfortable. Plan to pull up the flooring and layer new insulation on top of the old. Without exception you should talk to a professional to determine what your home requires. Mold can grow from the warm humid atmosphere in an attic causing hazardous air quality for your home.

We typically work through and seal the attic bypasses with the existing insulation in place olson says. You ll know it needs to be replaced if there are insulation leaks or if it is peeling from the walls. Generally speaking you need a ratio of 1 300 where for every 300 square feet of ceiling space you need 1 square foot of attic ventilation. However if you do not wish to install the new insulation over the mould exposed insulation to avoid mould spreading.

Furthermore if rats or other rodents have infested the original insulation it is likely to have droppings and urine. Insulation removal will be necessary. In case you notice these kinds of signs then removal is necessary. But if the floor is covered in plywood you can t stuff enough insulation beneath it to do the job sufficiently not even in warm climates.

Issues such as blocked vents a leaking roof or even basement flooding can cause attic insulation to get wet. Sometimes there is enough insulation in the middle of the attic and very little along the eaves. A typical insulation project can range from 1 500 to 5 000 depending on the size of the project. If your attic insulation covers your joists and is distributed evenly you probably have enough.

Insulation should also be replaced in some cases sooner than 15 years if it is no longer doing its job properly. That said air resistance and interference such as vent grates reduces the area of true ventilation. If insulation becomes moist or damp its rendered useless. Attic insulation is one important way you can lower you energy bills and make your home more green.

The attic is often one of the easiest places to add insulation to your home making it a great place to start when making weatherizing changes for any season. Any moldy insulation should be replaced immediately. You should also replace insulation if your roof has had a leak or you suspect water has gotten into the insulation. Because the simplest and cheapest way to insulate an attic is to add material to the floor.

But that doesn t truly answer why it s important to insulate the attic from a structural building science approach. Installing new insulation can help seal air leakage reduce or help prevent problems like mold growth and can help act as a sound barrier.