Ways to Know When It's Time to Add More Attic Insulation

If you’re like most Northwest Arkansas homeowners, you want to know the best, most cost-effective way to save on home energy bills. Good air sealing and insulation techniques can go a long way in improving HVAC efficiency. If you’ve already air-sealed your attic and basement, then the next step may be to check your attic insulation and add more attic insulation as needed. Your attic is among the easiest spaces to improve insulation levels in order to increase home energy-efficiency and overall indoor comfort.

How do I know whether I have enough?

A quick way to determine whether you need to add more attic insulation to your home is to look across the span of the space. If your attic insulation is either level or below your floor joists, then you should consider adding more. Or, if you notice that while you have good levels of insulation in the center of your attic, but low levels along your eaves, you may want to install rater vents to help completely insulate and cover your attic floor.

If insulation at your eaves is level with insulation at the center and joists are not easily visible due to a good packing of insulation, then you likely have enough insulation and the addition of more may not be cost-effective.

How much attic insulation should I add?

Insulation is defined by its R-Values, a measurement of its capability of resisting heat flow. The greater a type’s R-Value, the higher its thermal performance. Northwest Arkansas homeowners should insulate attics to R-38, or around 10 to 14 inches, depending on the type of insulation used.

What is the right kind of insulation to add?

You can mix up insulation in your attic. This means that if you already have loose fill installed, you can either continue to add more loose fill insulation, or install fiberglass blankets or batts on top of your current layers–and vice-versa.

To learn more about how to add more attic insulation for improved energy-savings, contact local experts at Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal. Our experienced technicians proudly serve residents throughout the Northwest Arkansas area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Springdale, Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about attic insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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