Benefits of Attic Insulation – Family Roofing

Posted on by David Reid

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Benefits of Attic Insulation

As a homeowner, you know that maintaining your roof is crucial to the overall health of your home.  But did you know that the condition of your attic insulation plays a big role in the longevity of your roof?   You may wonder “What is attic insulation?” or “Does attic insulation help, and is it worth the investment?  Attic insulation is responsible for keeping the air inside your home while preventing outside air from entering.

The Benefits of Good Attic Insulation

There are several benefits to having good attic insulation.  First, it helps to keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.  This can save you money on your energy bills and make your home more comfortable year-round.  Good attic insulation also helps to protect your roof from heat and moisture damage.  In the winter, it prevents heat from escaping through the roof, which can lead to ice dams and other problems.  In the summer, it helps to keep out excessive heat and moisture, which can shorten the lifespan of your roofing materials.

The Risks of Poor Attic Insulation

If your attic is not properly insulated, there are a number of risks you face as a homeowner.  One of the most serious risks is damage to your roof and siding. When heat escapes from your home through the attic, it can cause the snow and ice on your roof to melt.  Poor insulation can also cause condensation and moisture problems in your attic, which can lead to mold and mildew growth.  These conditions can weaken your roof structure and lead to premature deterioration of your roofing materials.

In addition to damaging your roof, poor attic insulation can lead to higher energy bills.  As mentioned before, when heat escapes from your home, your heating and cooling system has to work harder (and use more energy) to keep your home comfortable.  This can end up costing you in the long run.

How to Ensure Your Attic Is Properly Insulated

There are a few things you can do to ensure your attic is properly insulated.

  • Check for drafts. Drafty attics are one of the biggest sources of heat loss in homes.  Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal any cracks or gaps you find in order to prevent heat loss.

  • Make sure there is adequate ventilation in your attic.  Proper ventilation helps to prevent condensation and moisture problems.

  • Add insulation. If you don’t have enough insulation in your attic, add more!  You can usually find bags of insulation at hardware stores or online.  Be sure to follow the instructions carefully when adding new insulation so that it’s installed correctly.

  • Schedule regular inspections: It’s crucial to have regular inspections at least once a year and more often if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions.  This way, you can catch any problems early on and fix them before they become bigger issues.  During an inspection, a professional will check the condition of your insulation and ventilation and ensure everything is in good working order.  They will also look for any signs of damage or wear that could lead to problems down the road.  Regular attic inspections can help you avoid costly repairs and extend the lifespan of your roof.

The Top Attic Insulation Benefits for Homeowners

Improves Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality has a direct impact on your health and wellness.  An improperly insulated (or uninsulated) attic allows airborne contaminants to enter your home, including:

  • Bacteria

  • Mould spores

  • Dust and dirt

  • Particulate matter

  • Carbon monoxide

  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

  • Ozone (O3)

Fortunately, you can prevent the harm from polluted air leaking into your attic with proper insulation.  The insulation seals off any potential entry points, preventing airborne contaminants from entering your home and improving indoor air quality.

Extends the Life of Your Roof

Proper attic insulation can prolong the life of your roof.  Attics with deteriorated insulation often have leaks, which cause water damage and ice dams – both of which are expensive to fix.  During the winter, the heat from your home rises and melts the snow on your roof.  The snow eventually re-freezes and forms ice dams, which weaken your roof and can even cause structural damage.  However, insulating your attic can prevent these issues. It creates a dense barrier and seals off leaks, preventing the hot air from reaching the roof and causing ice dams.

Prevents Pests

Unwanted critters can make their way into attics, build nests and create a major nuisance for you, including mice, rats, squirrels, birds, insects, and more. Without insulation, pests find it much easier to enter your attic and home, where they find a reliable source of shelter, warmth, and food to raise their young. You can prevent these unwanted intruders by sealing off any potential entry points with insulation, making it near impossible for them to access your home.

Increases Your Home Value

One of the best benefits of investing in attic insulation is the increased value it adds to your home.  By properly sealing and insulating your attic, you lower energy costs, extend the lifespan of your home and roof, improve air quality, and more.  Should you ever want to sell your home, having professionally installed insulation is a strong selling point.  By insulating your attic, you can gain a return on your investment thanks to a boost in your home’s resale value.

Prevents Structural Damage

An under-insulated home is more expensive to heat and cool, but that’s not all.  Failing to insulate your home can even cause expensive structural damage to your walls, roof, framing, ceilings, and floors.  One of the most common issues is water damage.  Poorly insulated attics often suffer from roof leaks, wood rot, mold growth, excessive moisture, and ice dams.  Fortunately, you can seal off any leaks, cracks, or weak spots in your attic with insulation, eliminating the risk of water damage and structural problems.

Protects the Natural Environment

By insulating your attic, you can reduce your carbon footprint and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.  Insulation boosts protection for your home against heat and cold, making it easier to keep it at a comfortable temperature.  Ultimately, it lowers your energy consumption and decreases the energy your local power plant generates, reducing its carbon footprint and air pollution.  While it may not seem one house can make much of a difference, the impact over time begins to add up. Reducing energy usage by insulating your attic is an excellent way to benefit the environment and protect the natural ecosystem around you.

Stabilizes Room Temperature

You can stabilize room temperatures and increase the comfort of your home by adding insulation to your attic.  Homes with poor insulation are more vulnerable to cool air, which easily spreads throughout your home without an insulation barrier.  Have you experienced noticeable temperature differences or drafts in your home?  If so, insulating your attic can help.  Insulation creates a barrier that prevents hot and cold air from escaping, stabilizing the temperature inside your home and making it a more comfortable environment for you and your family.

Reduces Noise

Did you know that insulation can actually reduce both indoor and ambient noise?  Attic insulation creates a sealed barrier, which absorbs sound waves and vibrations that travel through your home’s walls.  By absorbing those vibrations, it reduces sound transmissions from the outdoors and between the floors and rooms of your home. The best insulation materials for reducing sound transmissions are:

  • Foam

  • Fibreglass

  • Cellulose

Promotes HVAC System Efficiency

Homes without the protection of an insulation barrier often have difficulty regulating temperature, placing more pressure on the HVAC system.  If your home’s heating and cooling system has to work in overdrive, it uses more energy and shortens its lifespan.  Once you add insulation to your attic, you seal off those openings where air leaks through, improving energy efficiency and supporting peak performance for your HVAC system.

Lowers Energy Costs

You can enjoy relief on your energy bills after insulating your attic.  The improved efficiency of your heating and cooling systems will contain more temperature-controlled air inside your home instead of escaping through the cracks.  Did you know that between 50 and 70% of the energy usage in your home is from heating and cooling?  Proper insulation protects your attic by preventing temperature fluctuations and air leaks that make your HVAC system work harder and increase monthly bills.

Can you have too much insulation in your ceiling?

It is possible to over-insulate your house so much that it can’t breathe.  The whole point of home insulation is to tightly seal your home’s interior.  But if it becomes too tightly sealed with too many layers of insulation, moisture can get trapped inside those layers.  That’s when mold starts to grow.

How much energy does attic insulation save?

EPA estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs (or an average of 11% on total energy costs) by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces, and accessible basement rim joists.

Take Advantage of These Benefits of Insulation in Attic

The many benefits of attic insulation clearly demonstrate why this energy-efficient upgrade is an excellent investment for your home.  You can reduce energy usage and costs, improve indoor air quality, extend the lifespan of your HVAC system and roof, prevent structural damage, and more.