How Often To Change Attic Insulation

Mold can grow from the warm humid atmosphere in an attic causing hazardous air quality for your home.

How often to change attic insulation.

In older homes especially it is this loose fill material that can be susceptible to settling and compaction. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. The structural elements are usually exposed in these areas which makes it easy to see what type of insulation you have and to measure its depth or thickness inches. You should also replace insulation if your roof has had a leak or you suspect water has gotten into the insulation.

How often do i need to replace insulation in my attic. In older homes there s a chance your attic insulation has never been replaced and could be badly degraded. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. Insulation levels are specified by r value.

Check the attic walls and floors adjacent to an unheated space like a garage or basement. Add the right kind of insulation. A typical insulation project can range from 1 500 to 5 000 depending on the size of the project. If you have an older home chances are the attic insulation is the same insulation that was installed when the house was built.

Rockwool or mineral wool insulation is also gray. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. 0but olson says in many cases the old insulation does not need to be removed which keeps costs down. Rockwool insulation can have a lumpy or even pebbly appearance.

Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. We typically work through and seal the attic bypasses with the existing insulation in place olson says. How often should attic insulation be replaced. If you notice the temperatures inside your home constantly seem to change it s often a telltale sign that your crawlspace and or attic insulation is reaching the end of its life.

R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat flow. If you ve never had your insulation checked out before it s time to get it done. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Standard insulation starts to degrade and start peeling from walls after about 15 years.

The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type. Insulation begins to degrade in quality and effectiveness at around the 15 year mark.