Improving appliances is great, but you should also strengthen your attic so the air you spend money cooling or heating stays in the house.
Attic updates like ventilation, radiant barriers and extending ductwork are simple to install – helping regulate home temperatures while saving money at the same time. These upgrades will not only add insulation but will help regulate temperatures within your home as well.
1. Install Insulation
Insulation upgrades can be an excellent way to maximize attic home energy performance. They keep heat from escaping during winter and help keep it inside during summer, cutting energy costs while also helping prevent ice damming and preventing ice dams from forming. Not all insulation materials are created equal though; higher R-Value materials may offer superior thermal performance.
Insulation materials typically fall into three categories: batts, loose fill and spray foam. Each has their own installation process and are best used in different situations; an accurate assessment should always be conducted prior to initiating any insulating project; using too little or the incorrect type can prove costly and hazardous.
Many utilities provide rebates for professional home air sealing and insulation projects, such as an attic inspection and new insulation installation. It may be worthwhile exploring these programs as they could significantly lower both upfront and total project costs.
If you plan to sell your home in the near future, having an insulated attic can be an important selling point – adding up to 15% in resale value.
For uninsulated attics, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends at least R-38 insulation (roughly equivalent to 10-12 inches of fiberglass), although this is just the starting point for making your home more energy efficient. A comprehensive energy audit can reveal opportunities that make all areas of the house more comfortable and energy efficient – for instance a poorly insulated attic can lead to uneven temperatures, sky-rocketing utility bills and drafty rooms throughout your home – and this kind of professional audit can identify and resolve such problems before they escalate further.
2. Install Radiant Barriers
Radiant barriers reduce radiant heat transfer and work effectively in tandem with blown-in insulation to form an efficient insulation system, significantly lowering cooling costs and energy bills. They’re an ideal addition to new construction or upgrading attic insulation as part of roof replacement projects; they may even provide cooling cost savings in hot southern climates where radiant barriers might provide moderate reductions. Of course, effectiveness can depend on factors like ventilation, ductwork location and other aspects.
Homeowners seeking to install radiant barriers should hire professional attic installers with certified attic specialists as certified professionals have both the training and tools required for proper installation of this foil-like material, making sure it does not touch joists or other structural elements in your attic. In addition, experts can ensure an air gap is created between it and the decking for optimal energy saving performance.
Radiant barriers offer many advantages for indoor comfort, including improved energy costs and system longevity. By redirecting more radiant heat back into the attic, living spaces below remain cooler, thus decreasing air conditioning load. Furthermore, radiant barriers help extend system lifespan while cutting energy costs significantly.
GreenHome Specialties can help make your attic an inviting space. A Home Energy Advisor will conduct a detailed evaluation of your home and identify key spots for energy improvements, listing them according to impact on energy efficiency, utility bills and indoor comfort before helping find you an excellent contractor in your area for work completion.
3. Install Insulated Drapes
Attics with windows often present energy efficiency problems. When sunlight shines in through these windows, its heat causes your attic to heat up quickly, disrupting its temperature regulation. Insulated drapes can solve this issue while still offering aesthetic and functionality as traditional curtains; offering more insulation at once!
Insulating your attic is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to increase energy efficiency in your home. Since heat rises, insulating it will significantly decrease heating and cooling costs while also protecting against leakage from above. But to reap maximum benefit from this DIY project it must be undertaken correctly for maximum effect.
Start by sealing and insulating the door and stairs of your attic space, using foam insulating spray for window sill areas as well as caulk to seal any leaks around plumbing or ductwork. Once all air leaks have been sealed off, add insulation for maximum comfort in this cozy attic space.
Finally, consider moving any belongings stored in your attic into a self-storage unit or peer-to-peer storage marketplace like Neighbor for long-term storage – this will free up space for new insulation while making heating and cooling the room simpler.
Before embarking on an attic insulation project, arm yourself with the right tools. Measuring tape, utility knife and staple gun will assist in installing insulation securely into place and should also include dust mask to avoid irritation from insulation fibers and airborne particles. Depending on the size of your attic, a ladder and extension cord may also come in handy for reaching difficult-to-reach places.
4. Seal Air Leaks
Air leakage typically accounts for 30-50% of a home’s energy loss. It occurs when conditioned air escapes through gaps in attic insulation into living spaces below, forcing its heating and cooling systems to work harder to keep temperatures comfortable, driving up energy costs and shortening equipment lifespan.
Attic air leaks can disrupt vermiculite insulation and cause it to settle or degrade over time, compromising the attic’s main objective of keeping conditioned air inside while keeping out unwanted hot or cold air.
GBA employs a comprehensive strategy for finding and sealing air leaks, beginning with an attic inspection which includes thermal imaging to pinpoint areas of air infiltration and visual examination of the attic space to locate gaps or voids.
Once we understand the layout of a house, we examine its composition closely to pinpoint any areas where dropped soffits over kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities, slanted ceilings above stairs or where interior and exterior walls meet attic space that might lead to air leakage, leading to thermal bypassing.
Caulk and expandable foam spray are used to seal air leaks in these areas. Other techniques may also be necessary, such as for recessed lighting, open wall cavities or plumbing stacks.
Attic insulation should be tested via both paper test and smoke test to determine its adequacy. To conduct the former, close all doors and windows, turn off fans, combustible appliances, conduct it during breezy day and perform test. If no draft can be felt or light shines through walls it is time to upgrade attic insulation.
5. Install Attic Fans
Attic insulation plays a pivotal role in overall energy efficiency, comfort and air quality for home. Old or outdated attic insulation may result in higher energy bills as well as pests entering air ducts or moisture issues within two to five years. Upgrading to higher grades typically pays for itself within this timeframe.
Installation of attic fans is another powerful way to increase home energy efficiency. These simple devices work by venting rising heat and moisture from the attic out through its vents to lower living room temperatures while simultaneously cutting cooling bills.
An effective attic fan also reduces the strain your air conditioning unit must work under to keep your home comfortable. When temperatures in the attic get too high, your AC must work harder to regulate temperatures – increasing utility bills significantly in turn.
During the summer, hot attic air can quickly seep into living spaces, making your home uncomfortably warm. Furthermore, this warm air can melt snow off roofs and refreeze it, potentially leading to ice dams, leaky roofs, water damage or leakage issues.
Your choice of attic fan depends on your climate and usage needs, but generally speaking it should have adjustable thermostat capabilities so it will switch itself off automatically when not needed. For frequent usage consider purchasing one with power venting capabilities which draw air through unobstructed gable vents or unobstructed soffit vents.
