Attic Insulation can Pay Big Dividends Year Round

Most homeowners are aware that insulation is important to keeping a house warm in the winter and saving energy. However, insulation also plays a key role during the cooling season, and nowhere is it more important than in the attic.

The right type and amount of insulation in an attic slows down the transfer of heat energy from a roof that’s been baking in the hot sun all day long.

If that heat is allowed to enter the attic, it’s not long before it begins transferring downward into the home’s living spaces. It’s all the worse if your attic has been converted into a bedroom or office.

Insulation needs to be placed between the floor joists and under the roof as well.

Attic air sealing and ventilation are also essential

Just as you want to avoid the transfer of heat energy between the attic and spaces below, you’ll want to prevent air from moving between those spaces.

Make sure any cracks or opening in the attic floor are sealed with caulk or spray foam insulation, including places where recessed lights are located and electrical or cable TV lines run through the floor.

Make sure that attic hatch or door is well sealed as well. A well-ventilated attic will allow for a crucial exchange of air between inside and outside, allowing fresh outside air to mix with superheated air in the attic. (Properly designed attic ventilation also will prevent ice dams from forming in the winter and the resulting water intrusion inside, which can damage the roof, attic walls and floor, and furniture and fixtures.)

Don’t make your A/C work harder than necessary

When heat energy and warm air is moving from the attic into your living spaces, the air conditioning has to work all the harder to make your rooms comfortable. This wastes energy, stresses equipment and may lead to eventual breakdowns.

Of course, for the same reasons, it’s important to have proper insulation in the walls, basement and other parts of the house, including in ductwork that runs through unconditioned areas such as a crawlspace or wall void.

Your trusted heating and air conditioning contractor can advise you on the right type and amount of insulation for the attic and other parts of your home. They’ll know the correct insulation for the Cincinnati-area climate, too.

While this blog is about air conditioning and attic insulation (and ventilation), most of the points also apply (just in reverse) to the importance of attic insulation during the winter.