Benefits of Better Attic Insulation, Ventilation

Maximize Comfort and Savings With Better Attic Ventilation, Insulation

You may improve the energy efficiency of your Brandon area home by taking steps to increase attic ventilation and improve attic insulation, especially if it’s an older home that was built without energy conservation in mind. A well-ventilated and well-insulated attic will save you money and make your home more comfortable in a variety of ways:

• Good ventilation keeps your attic drier. In our humid climate, moisture buildup due to poor airflow in your attic can lead to mold and mildew growth, rotting roof decking and structural members, and deterioration of insulation.
• Good ventilation cuts your cooling bills. A well-ventilated attic will reduce your air conditioning load on hot summer days by keeping your attic relatively cool.
• Adequate insulation cuts heating and cooling bills. Insulation reduces heat conduction between your living spaces and attic, so your heating and cooling systems don’t have to work as hard to keep your house comfortable.

Even if your existing attic floor insulation is adequately deep, it may not be as effective as you think it is. Insulation can settle with age or be compressed during installation, reducing the free air space inside the insulating material and therefore reducing its effectiveness. Insulation that’s moist or that has been damaged by animals in your attic also loses its insulating value.

Improving your attic ventilation and upgrading your insulation may be jobs you can do yourself, but working in an attic is cramped, tiring and tedious, so you may prefer to have professional contractor do the work. Some things you should ask your contractor to do along with work to improve attic insulation include:

• Provide adequate ventilation. Use baffles to keep soffit vents from being blocked by insulation. Add ridge vents or gable vents to allow air to exit the attic freely.
• Seal air leaks before adding insulation. Openings at the top of stud walls, gaps around plumbing stacks, furnace flues and other openings in the ceiling should be sealed before insulation is added. Insulate and weatherstrip the attic hatch.

Call Gulf Coast Air Systems for more information about maximizing comfort and reducing energy costs.