Does Attic Insulation Affect Whole-Home Comfort in the Winter?

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Keeping your family warm and comfortable during those colder months is no small task. If you want your home to stay warm during this upcoming winter season, you may want to check out this article. Not only does attic insulation make your home more energy-efficient, but it also helps to keep your home comfortable. Learn more as we answer the question: does attic insulation affect whole-home comfort in the winter?

What Is Insulation?

Insulation is a type of material used to keep your home energy efficient and properly tempered. This material helps to block out any cold, heat, mold, water, or allergens. Insulation helps protect you and your family from any pollutants that can seep into the air inside your home.

Insulation for Attics

If you want your home to be more energy-efficient, you will need to start with attic insulation. Insulating your attic floor and all the parts of your attic is very important. With proper insulation, your heater and air conditioner unit won’t have to work as hard to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

The best insulation to use in your home depends on the type of attic you have and your area’s climate. Most people opt for fiberglass insulation for their attic insulation.

Fiberglass is made of spun glass fibers that are bound by either glue, resin, or plastic. If you need high levels of insulation, you can have fiberglass blown into your walls. This fiberglass material is excellent against the elements, inexpensive, and does not support combustion.

What Is Spray Foam Insulation?

Spray foam insulation is a moisture-resistant type of material. This material helps to seal up any leaks or cracks in your walls. It can also help to provide a thermal barrier by filling in any gaps in your attic.

Spray foam insulation also helps to prevent any heat transfer. The only downside to this material is the costs, and the time it takes to install. You will need to reach out to insulation contractors to have this properly installed into your home.

Does Attic Insulation Affect Whole-Home Comfort in the Winter?

Insulation in your attic works by trapping any unventilated air space within a material of your choosing. The R-value of your insulation tells you about the insulation’s ability to resist heat flow.

The higher the number, the better the insulation is. You will want to opt for insulation with an R-value of 30 or 40 if you want your home to be energy efficient and comfortable.

Attic Air Circulation

It is imperative that you have adequate air circulation in your attic to keep your heating and cooling systems working at their best. You can have an attic fan installed to help with circulation. Ensuring that your attic vents and ductwork are cleaned, and well-positioned can also help the bitter cold air escape your home.

Review Your Roof’s Condition

A significant factor you need to consider when insulating homes for winter is the condition of your roof. It is vital that you have your roof inspected to ensure that it can keep animals and other elements out from entering your home. If your roof is over twenty years old, then your home may not be as energy-efficient as it should be.

Attic Water Issues

It is crucial that you review the condition of your attic to ensure there are no cracks. A small leak or crack in the exterior surface of your attic can allow water to come into your home.

Over time, this small leak can cause more significant problems such as structural damage or mold. At its worst, this leak could cause your ceiling to collapse suddenly.

Window and Door Insulation

Your attic may be a place where cold air infiltrates into your home, but your windows and doors are also culprits. You may be tempted to change out the damaged weather-stripping, but you may want to consider replacing your window with a more energy-efficient window. Newer windows are more effective at retaining heat which reduces frost and condensation build-up during the colder seasons.

How Insulation Benefits the Family

Not only does high-quality insulation make your home more energy-efficient, but it also makes it more comfortable for everyone in the home. The proper insulation will ensure that heat stays inside your home. 

Comfort 

Your heating systems are only as good as your insulation. If you want your family to stay as comfortable as possible without having to reach for extra blankets, you will want to make sure your insulation is up to date.

When you turn up the heat in your home, you can also cause skin and eye irritation. The cold weather already irritates your skin, so there is no need to turn up the heat so much so that it also irritates you and your loved ones. 

Reduces Sound

Nothing is worse than sleeping peacefully just to wake up to the sound of someone snoring. The insulation of your home also helps to absorb the sounds that bounce off your walls. 

Resale Value

When it comes down to the time that you wish to part ways with your home, make sure that you update your insulation.

When the next potential buyer comes to inspect your home, they may find issues with the insulation, which you may have to pay out of your pocket. If you take care of your insulation now, you won’t have to worry about those repairs, and this new insulation upgrade can also add to your property’s value. 

Importance of Insulation for Attics

Not only is it important to insulate your attic to keep it warm during the winter season, but it is also important to insulate your attic to protect yourself from dangerous gases like carbon monoxide.

In your home, if you have any inadequately vented appliances that use gas, such as your furnace, water heater, or oven, you risk releasing this odorless gas into your home.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that can mimic flu-like symptoms. This gas can also cause death, so it is best to ensure that your home is adequately insulated to ensure no carbon monoxide leaks.

Energy-Efficient Insulation for Homes

As mentioned earlier, having your attic properly insulated helps keep your heating and cooling systems working at their optimal best. This is because proper insulation helps to slow down heat loss during the colder seasons. Homes with reduced insulation lose more than $700 worth of cooling and heating each year.

Get Attic Insulation Help Today!

The last thing you want to do is run your heating systems into the ground, leaving you with expensive repair and energy bills. So, does attic insulation affect whole-home comfort in the winter? The answer is Yes! Attic insulation is a great place to start if you want your home to stay warm during the bitter cold and keep your family comfortable.

This insulation also helps during the hotter months of the year. Now that you know more about the importance of home insulation, it’s time to inspect your attic and update your insulation.