Want to Save on Heating Oil and Heating Repairs Next Heating Season? Insulate Your Attic

Many people ask why it’s important to insulate an attic that isn’t used, or is only used for storage.

Well, for two key reasons: First, because as much as 20 percent of the heated (or cooled) air in your home escapes through the attic. That’s a big deal when about half of your energy bill is spent heating your home.

A second reason? A properly insulated attic will protect your home heating system by minimizing wear and tear on your equipment – simply put, with inadequate insulation, your heating equipment has to overwork to do the same job. That overwork will eventually lead to potentially costly heating repairs.

The problem is that insulation is out of sight and mind (when was the last time you thought about it?), so it’s easy to forget about it…except when the bill comes.

Assessing your insulation situation

How do you know if your attic is properly insulated? Here are some guidelines.

• If you want to know if you have sufficient insulation in your attic, you’ll need to check your current insulation for its R-Value. R-Value measures insulation’s ability to resist the transfer of heat.
• In Rhode Island, the EPA recommends that you have a minimum of R49 in a previously uninsulated attic. If your attic has blown-in insulation, there should be a minimum of 8.5 inches covering the floor of your attic.
• R-Value is a cumulative measure, which means you can add new insulation on top of existing insulation. When you add new insulation, be sure to reinforce the existing insulation around windows, attic doors, and any other openings.
• It’s also important to inspect your home’s ductwork, and to consider wrapping your ducts with insulation to reduce loss from your air conditioner and heating system.

Beyond the attic

Of course, your attic isn’t the only place in your home that needs to be properly insulated. Any areas in which conditioned and unconditioned air come into contact needs treatment; these include:

• Garage ceilings, walls, and floors
• Foundations
• Ductwork
• Basements ceilings and walls
• Crawl spaces

For good advice for where and how much to insulate your Rhode Island home, check out this guide from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Want to learn other ways you can save energy in your RI home? Contact us today for our latest specials on high efficiency heating equipment – including Swing into Spring offers that can help you save up to $1000 on a new furnace or boiler!