The Attic is the most likely place where heat loss occurs during cold seasons when the homeowner needs it the most, or where hot air seeps into the house during hot weather. If this is the case, then attic insulation is not effective and could only cost more in energy cost used for either heating or air conditioning. Since there are various possibilities for heat loss during winter or indoor heat accumulation during summer, it is important that checks are made on the insulator to ensure that it is effective.

Your starting point would have to be measuring the thickness of the attic insulation. The thickness of the material should then be multiplied by the thermal resistance measure per inch (R-Value). The resulting figure should be enough indication of the level of insulation that your house has. Ideally, the higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation you have. The verdict on whether the insulation is enough or not can only be made if the homeowner knows the recommended R-value for the specific material used for insulation. Should the value be less than the recommended amount, then consider additional attic insulation installation.

If you have the recommended R-value in your attic and still suspect that heat is being lost or hot air is penetrating through the same, then investing in an attic radiant barrier could be the next best option. The radiant barriers reflect heat away from the house during summer and prevent heat from escaping from the house during winter. The radiant barriers work best when facing small open air spaces. For maximum effect, one should check the barriers for excessive dust, which harbors effective performance of the attic insulation.

When conducting the attic insulation installation, the homeowner needs to decide whether he needs to use the same or a different insulation material on his attic. Adding on a different kind of insulation on existing ones is equally effective. Some of the materials available for use include cellulose, polystyrene board and fiberglass. Spending on additional insulation is not only cost effective, but it also helps stem environment degradation as reduced energy consumption lessens carbon offsets.

When evaluating the effectiveness of your upper floor insulation, it is important to check if the material used has vapor retarder. The absence of vapor retarder could mean that the moisture the attic has been exposed to over the years could probably lessen its efficiency. Should it be the case, getting insulation materials that have retarders could help improve the attic's insulation performance. During an additional attic insulation installation, it is important to note that the use of materials with or without retarders mainly depends on the permeability of the material used earlier. Retarders limit the level of moisture that diffuses through the building material. Adding an extra layer of retarder on a preexisting one, or faced insulation leads to condensation of the moisture within the layers and could damage the ceiling and walls. Prolonged condensation causes structural damages to the house.

About the Author

Jordan Mcpelt is a professional author who specializes in attic insulation installation. For more information please visit http://www.stophighenergybills.com/

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