What are the benefits of blown-in attic insulation?

Did you know that 40% of your home’s energy loss escapes through the attic?
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Many homes, especially those 10-15 years or older, have attics that are under-insulated, or have never been insulated at all, compromising the comfort, safety, and energy-efficiency that a properly insulated attic can provide.

​What is blown-in insulation?
 
Blown-in or loose-fill insulation, comes in tiny pieces compressed together into one large rectangular block. A special machine is used to break up the large block of insulation and the little pieces are then vacuumed through a long tube that is fed into the attic where the insulation blows out to fill in the necessary spaces in the attic.
 
Fiberglass, cotton, and mineral wool can all work as loose-fill material, but the far and away top choice for blown-in insulation is fiberglass. Blown-in fiberglass insulation is perfect for filling in tight voids around wiring, pipes, or any area with awkward framing.

A professional blown-in attic insulation in progress. Photo Credit: Owens Corning Residential Insulation

The benefits of blown-in attic insulation include:

1. A more energy efficient home. The smaller particles of blown-in insulation fit tightly in all the nooks and crannies of your attic which provides a superior seal, preventing hot or cold air from entering your home.
2. A prolonged life for your HVAC system. Blown-in insulation keeps temperatures in your home more stable, which means your HVAC system won't have to work as hard to; resulting in a longer life and savings on energy bills.
3. A reduction in noise. Blown-in insulation will reduce outside noises like rain, thunder, or the next-door neighbor's pool party. It will also help dampen the noises heard from room to room within the home.
4. An improvement on indoor air quality. Blown-in insulation creates a barrier than helps to prevent pollens, pollutants, and airborne toxins from entering your home due to air leaks caused by poor insulation. 

A well-insulated attic. Photo Credit: Owens Corning Residential Insulation

What does R-value mean and why is it important?
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R-value measures how well building insulation can prevent the flow of heat into and out of the home. Higher R-value means better climate control and better energy efficiency for your home, and thus more savings on your next heating and cooling bill.
 
Here in the Houston area, it is recommended that your attic have a total R-value between R30 to R60. These R-values are a sum, meaning this should be the total R-value once you add up the entire depth of insulation. For example, if you have a type of insulation that has an R-value of R-5 per inch of thickness, you will need a depth of 6-inches of this insulation installed in your attic to reach R-30, or a depth of 12 inches to reach R-60.
 
How do I know if my attic has enough insulation?
 
Using R-3 value per inch as an example, if the insulation is level with or below the attic floor joists, you probably need to add more insulation. If you look across your attic and see the insulation rising well above the floor joists, this means you probably have enough and adding more insulation may not be cost-effective. 

A poorly insulated attic on the left compared to a properly insulated attic on the right. Photo Credit: Owens Corning Residential Insulation

​How much does it cost?
 
Insulating your attic properly could save you up to 15% on your home’s heating and cooling energy costs. Country Air professionally installs blown-in insulation and is happy to provide a free estimate customized to your attic space and your home’s needs.
 
Call us at 281-356-8564 for a free estimate today!