Is attic insulation necessary.
Attics can serve as functional storage spaces, but beyond this, they also play a key role in ensuring energy efficiency in homes if properly insulated. According to the US Department of Energy, about 50-70% of the energy consumed in an average home comes from heating and cooling. Attic insulation will thus be critical in reducing energy waste.
Unfortunately, many homeowners tend to overlook the attic space since it is not a commonly visited place. To better understand how important insulation in this area is, check out what may happen if you have no insulation in the attic.
Loss of Warm Air
During the winter, the goal is to keep your home warm. However, without proper insulation, hot air will rise to your attic and escape through the roof. This leaves the upper areas in your home colder since most of the warm air gets lost through the attic. Having insulation helps maintain consistent temperatures inside your home and prevents heat from escaping.
Loss of Cold Air
Like how heat may escape, cold air may also be lost if you have no insulation in the attic. During the summer, the opposite happens. You want your home to stay as cool as possible, but the cold air released by your air conditioning unit gets lost because moves to the warmer areas outside.
Like the problem with lost heat, this summertime concern can also have negative consequences on roofing systems. Homes with uninsulated attics can reach exceedingly high temperatures can damage components in your roof. Some consequences include cracked and blistered shingles and the softening of adhesives, which can compromise your roof.
Buildup of Moisture
Moisture can accumulate in three main ways. The main cause would be air currents, which occur when air moves from high-pressure areas to lower-pressure areas through virtually any crack and hole, which attics are known to have. A common remedy is air sealing, which creates a vapor barrier that prevents air from moving in and out of your home.
The other two causes of moisture would be heat transfer and diffusion. As mentioned above, insulation aids in reducing heat flow, so having no insulation in the attic can cause moisture to build up. This creates a breeding ground for mildew, mold, and fungus, which can damage your home and pose health risks for people who live there.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
Aside from the potential growth of mold and mildew, other pollutants from outside can also easily enter your home through air leaks. These can heavily compromise indoor air quality and increase the health hazards in your home.
Higher Energy Bills
With no insulation in the attic, your heating and cooling systems have to work twice as hard to maintain your home’s indoor temperature. It leads to higher energy bills that can put a strain on your wallet. Proper attic insulation allows you to save anywhere between 15-50% on your bills, so you can imagine how much energy is wasted without it.
Likewise, uninsulated attics can compromise the durability of your HVAC systems. Since they have to work overtime to maintain the temperature indoors, they are subject to more wear and tear, which can shorten their lifespan in the long run.
Fluctuating Temperatures
Uninsulated attics can cause major temperature fluctuations at home. In most cases, rooms on the upper floor will have significantly different temperatures from those on the lower floor. It becomes particularly problematic during the winter and summer when you need your home’s indoor temperature to be comfortable.
Decreased Property Value
Homebuyers have become more concerned about energy efficiency in properties. While modern homes likely comply with the building code to meet certain requirements, older homes usually do not have insulating materials in the attic. Such properties can have a lower value in the market since attic insulation has grown into an important selling point today.
Excess Carbon Footprint
The excessive use of your HVAC systems and the constant loss of heat and cold air can lead to a higher carbon footprint. Essentially, more energy used leads to more harm caused to the environment. Thus, installing attic insulation can significantly reduce your footprint to emit less carbon dioxide.
Get Your Attic Insulated Today with Joe Blows Insulation!
Given all the points listed above, insulating your attic can do wonders for your home. However, if you are unsure what insulating materials to use or what type of insulation you should get, you can reach out to Joe Blows Insulation at (727) 608-6389. We offer Attic Insulation, Insulation Removal, and Air Sealing services to keep your home comfortable all year round.