Want to save money? Of course! That is a stupid question, right? Everyone does! But here’s another, less obvious question: Do you know how well insulated your home is?
If your home’s insulation is poor, then you are truly--as so many mothers have warned--trying to heat the neighborhood. If you own a home with an attic, then it is well established that it is the most wasteful area for heat in the house. The only possible way to prevent heat from rising up and out of the area is to make sure that your home is well insulated. Good insulation will also help trap cool air in the summer, so your A/C doesn’t have to work as hard.
Lessening the amount of air that is escaping from and intruding into your home is one of the easiest ways to save on energy costs. How much is saved depends on a lot of factors, from your general usage to how well the situation was handled previously. Making sure that your walls are well insulated with dry, clean insulation can do wonders. Some estimates argue that consumers could save approximately 40% by fully insulating a previously ignored attic.
There are different types of insulation, of course, and it is always useful to consult someone who has expertise in the area. Fiberglass is common enough in its rolled pink sheets, but it need to be handled with care. Protect your arms, legs, mouth, and eyes if you are handling fiberglass insulation. There are other types, such as blown cellulose, that may not be as well known and understood by the layman.
If you are considering having your attic insulated, you should start with a thorough cleaning. Be prepared to find a mess of mold, dust, and rodent leavings. If your attic is already insulated, check to make sure that everything is up to snuff. Old, compressed insulation is not operating at its fullest capacity; nor is wet, moldy insulation. It should be replaced (not just padded over--the mold needs to be pulled out).
Check your home’s insulation situation. You may find that you are losing more energy than you realize, straight out of the top of your house! Luckily, it is an easy enough fix. Your house can be warmer or cooler, and in general as pleasant as you want it, and less expensive to boot--and isn’t that really what everybody wants.
