ATTIC INSULATION – JUST AS IMPORTANT IN SUMMER
Most people think attic insulation is a way to keep your home warmer during cold winter months, but proper attic insulation is equally important for keeping your home cooler and more energy efficient in summer too.
HEAT TRANSFER FROM THE ATTIC
During summer months the sun beats down on your roof long into the day. The heat from the sun, especially if you have a dark colored roof, will transfer into your attic. While good attic ventilation can help reduce heat buildup, without proper insulation excess heat can penetrate living spaces below.
If you have air conditioning set to keep rooms at a specific temperature, your air conditioner will need to run longer and more often to maintain those temperatures, as a direct result of the heat transfer from the attic.
WEAR AND TEAR ON YOUR COOLING SYSTEM
This added burden on your cooling system can lead to premature wear and tear and shorten the life expectancy of your air conditioning system. The cost to replace central air conditioning continues to increase. The average cost to replace and install a single central air conditioning unit can range between $3500 and $6500 dollars, more if you have a large home and multiple units.
UTILITY COSTS
Additionally, your electric bill can skyrocket during hot months due to running your cooling system longer and more frequently throughout the day. Cooling your home in summer is already costly, without proper insulation you can expect to pay two to three times more to combat attic heat transfer.
WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING
If you don’t have central air conditioning and instead rely on window units, fans, and open windows, battling excessive heat can be near futile without proper attic insulation.
UPGRADE YOUR ATTIC INSULATION
Most attics have some level insulation already. Currently, the EPA recommends a minimum of an R49 rating for Midwest Region 5 which includes Illinois. High-efficiency homes are insulated to an R60 rating. Most older homes, and track homes built before 2016 were not required to meet this standard.
An R-value is a measure of how well insulation resists the conductive flow of heat. The higher the R-value, the better the insulating capacity. To be more technical, R-value is the temperature difference per unit of heat flux needed to sustain one unit of heat flux between the warmer surface and colder surface of a barrier under steady-state conditions.
To meet or exceed an R-49, blown-in fiberglass can be applied over existing insulation, provided the insulation is not wet, moldy, or contaminated. Blown-in insulation is a hassle-free and affordable way to reduce heat transfer in summer, with the added benefits of keeping your home more comfortable in winter too.
ATTIC VENTILATION IS ALSO IMPORTANT
Insulation alone won’t prevent heat buildup in your attic. The right combination of attic ventilation and attic insulation is the key to a cool attic and a cooler home in summer. Click here to learn more about attic ventilation.
AN INSULATION UPGRADE PAYS FOR ITSELF
Proper attic insulation will pay for itself by reducing utility costs all year round for decades and by extending the life of your heating and cooling systems which can be very expensive to replace.
NOT SURE WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR ATTIC?
We are Attic Air, serving Chicago and all Suburbs. Call us for a free attic assessment of your attic insulation and ventilation. You can reach us at 630.830.3870