The attic is designed for more than storing old clothes, furniture, sports equipment and holiday decorations.
It is intended to provide a protective barrier between the living space and the exterior heat, humidity and cold.
For the attic to fulfill its potential, it needs to be properly insulated. Approximately ninety percent of single-family homes in this country are not sufficiently insulated. Temperature control adds up to about 50 to 70% of the energy consumed by the average household. If the home is under-insulated, it costs more to achieve and maintain comfort. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, homeowners can save around 15% on their heating and cooling costs by sealing up cracks and adding insulation to attics and crawl spaces. There’s also less wear and tear on the heating and cooling system. Drafty homes force the HVAC equipment to run longer and more often. Because heat rises, an attic that is not insulated tends to steal heat from the living space in the winter and add heat in the summer. Reducing the workload of the heating/cooling system not only trims costs but lessens the chance of malfunction. You’ll further enough fewer temperature fluctuations and superior comfort. A temperature difference of ten to fifteen degrees between the upstairs and downstairs is an indication that the home doesn’t have enough insulation. With bedrooms most often located on the upper floors, increasing insulation helps to optimize comfort at night and in the early morning, when outside temperatures are at their lowest point. Leaks caused by poor insulation allow contaminants such as dust, pollen, mold, bugs and more to enter the home. The influx of airborne toxins compromises indoor air quality and creates a significant health threat.