Find Out How Attic Insulation is Lowering Homeowner’s Energy Bills

Published on June 13, 2018

The most popular home appliances, tools, and services all purport to help lower your energy consumption and monthly electricity bills, but these benefits can be a drop in the bucket compared to how attic insulation lowers energy bills. Everyone is looking for solutions to save money around their home, but the truth of the matter is that new attic insulation in Toronto lowers energy bills, keeps you warmer and cooler, and helps create a more comfortable indoor living environment all in one installation.

How Does Attic Insulation Help Me Save?

Installing new insulation in your attic or walls can help you save money in half a dozen different places in your home. For example: a better-insulated home results in less load on your furnace or air conditioning unit during the coldest or warmest times of the year. Less load means fewer repairs, a longer lifespan, and a more efficient machine.

Regardless of age, most homes leak up to 30% of their air conditioning through old, deteriorated, or insufficient insulation and air leaks. Those leaks aren’t always obvious either - small cracks and gaps in your building envelope may be hidden underneath or behind joists, insulation batts, or other architectural details.

Attic insulation lowers energy bills by offering more complete coverage to prevent air leaks and keep your air conditioning in. Good insulation benefits in the summer months too - it helps keep the heat of the sun from absorbing into your home and increasing your indoor temperatures.

When is it Time to Replace my Attic Insulation?

Knowing when to replace your insulation is best judged by a professional who can accurately assess it for damage or degradation. But there are a few questions you can ask yourself and a visual inspection can get you off on the right track:

When was the last time you replaced your insulation? If the answer is “I don’t know,” or “Two decades ago,” it might be time to think about replacing it or topping it up!

Has there been a leak or damage to my roof? If you take a look in your attic and notice insulation has been damaged due to weather or pests or even just time, it’s probably a good idea to replace and remove any damaged materials.

Is my home hot in the summer or cold in the winter, despite the air conditioner or furnace? The easiest sign that something’s not quite right in your attic is that your home’s temperature fluctuates wildly or seems completely unaffected by your air conditioning.

Removing old insulation has beneficial effects to your home - not only will heat, sound, condensation, or mold problems improve or disappear, but any dust or allergens created by decaying material will be removed. At EcoComfort Insulation, our teams perform a thorough inspection with each attic insulation removal and installation, ensuring that any problems that may be causing insulation or become damaged are fixed before new materials are installed.

Different Types of Insulation

At EcoComfort, we commonly recommend two different types of blown-in attic insulation - making for a quick, clean, and painless installation.

• Blown-in Cellulose (Highly recommended): This type of insulation is popular for a reason - it offers great R-Values and, as a recycled product, it offers an eco-friendly option for home renovation. Blown-in cellulose insulation is made of post-consumer recycled paper goods that have been treated with borates (a naturally occurring mineral) to be both pest and fire resistant.
• Blown-in Fibreglass: Fibreglass is similar to blown-in cellulose insulation, except it’s made from glass spun like cotton candy. As a blown-in product, fibreglass does especially well for an inadequately insulated attic where a top-up is needed. While it's a solid option for your home's insulation, cellulose is still the better performing material. 

The Best Part? Provincial Rebates Can Help Cover Costs.

If you’re worried about the cost of installing new attic insulation, there are four different programs in Ontario that offer you rebates on installation - because attic insulation lowers energy bills by lowering energy consumption, governments around the country are keen on lowering the load on the power grid. Below are four options you can consider applying to:

• GreenON: This program offers rebates on the installation of high-performance windows and new insulation - up to $7200 worth!
• Union Gas Home Reno Rebate Program: If you’re a Union Gas customer, you may be eligible for rebates of up to $5000 when you do “energy smart” upgrades around your home.
• HECP: The Enbridge Gas Home Energy Conservation Program prioritizes energy-saving home upgrades is a program similar to Union Gas’ and up to $5000 is available.
• HELP: For folks in the city of Toronto, your energy conservation program is called HELP: The Home Energy Loan Program, offering low-interest loans to help you make improvements to your home.

All of these programs have specific rules and requirements for participation, so read carefully to ensure you’re eligible. All programs require an energy audit, which, if you haven’t had one, can be an enlightening experience!

Home Improvement

Big renovations and changes to your home can be a daunting project, but with the right team, removing old insulation and installing new should be an easy and painless process with great rewards. At EcoComfort Insulation, we pride ourselves on helping to demystify and explain the whole process, decisions, and reasons behind what we do so that you feel empowered to make an informed decision. Attic insulation lowers energy bills and can help you feel more comfortable all year round - get in touch with us for more information and suggestions on how to save on your energy bills!