TheThief in Your Attic

The really hot weather has not yet arrived and with it the outrageous energy bills. But, one of the most unappreciated improvements you can make to your home is to add insulation. We worry about the burglar but there is a thief right up in your attic taking money from you every day. And without exception, insulation is always a good idea.

A few years ago I took the online energy audit through JEA and decided to check the insulation in my attic. The recommend R-Value (resistance value) for this area is R-30 and I discovered the light level I had was about R-10 which is nothing during a hot Summer day. Checking with Lowes and installing it myself, my energy bill was cut by 60% and the insulation paid for itself in a year- and-a-half. After installing additional insulation , even during the hottest part of the Summer, my compressor does not come on until around 2 pm which I'm certain has extended the life of the air conditioning unit while saving me money.

If you have an older home (as most English Estates homes are), there is generally a thin layer of loose insulation sitting up there and it is usually less than 3 inches high which is the R-10 I discovered. You can select the sheets or rolls of R-rated insulation or have it blown in. Either way, you will notice a difference almost immediately if it is done correctly.

Blown insulation generally covers better in an existing house and is more economical—just be sure you get quotes by R-value—not in inches, as that will vary among many different products. Also, be sure your quotes include the minimum depth in inches and that the number of bags to be used match manufacturers recommendation.

So now you have added insulation to your attic and seen the savings and you begin to wonder if there is anything else you can do to stop the leakage of your cool air. Have I got some great stuff for you. That's it... "Great Stuff!"

It comes in a spray can and spreads as a foam. Once the foam has settled it begins to expand and is great for gaps around the house. Packaged with an easy-to-use straw, the Insulating Foam Sealant fills pipe penetrations, gaps in the structure where two building materials meet, and any space that allows air to enter or leave the home's envelope. There are five formulations of GREAT STUFF The insulating foam sealants bond to wood, metal, masonry, glass and most plastics.



I told you it was great stuff!