Is Attic Insulation Really Worth it?

Published on October 05, 2018

Regardless of whether you’ve owned a home for 50 years or are a new homeowner, making changes or big renos can be really stressful - with so many questions about materials, costs, safety and more, you may be wondering whether attic insulation is really worth it. There are many benefits to insulating your attic properly, but if you don’t know much about your attic or haven’t even really been up there in the last six months, it’s difficult to know if attic insulation is really worth it and what those benefits might even be.

How Do You Know if You Should Get Your Attic Insulated?

There are a couple of signs that you may need to take a closer look at your attic and consider installing new insulation. If you’re experiencing any of the following problems, it may be time to call in an insulation professional like EcoComfort:

• You have drafts, hot or cool spots: These problems are indicative of air movement around your home, which may be caused by a leaky under-insulated attic drawing conditioned air out of your rooms.
• You have high utility bills: If your monthly heating and cooling costs are making you sweat, adding insulation to your attic can have an immediate positive effect by keeping the conditioned air your HVAC system creates in your home.
• You have trouble regulating your temperature: When you’re constantly resetting your thermostat or have trouble with high humidity indoors, it is likely that insulation is to blame.

Temperature is a key part of being comfortable and healthy indoors, and, if insulation can cause all these different effects, installing attic insulation is really worth it when it comes to long term comfort.

Types of Attic Insulation

At EcoComfort, there are three types of attic insulation that we like to work with.

Batts: Generally shaped like rectangular slabs, batt style insulation often looks like cotton candy and is made up of long interwoven fibres. It’s excellent for new builds and relatively regular attic spaces, where the sheets can be placed down end to end for thorough coverage.

Blown In: This style of insulation usually comes in one of two materials, cellulose or fibreglass, and can be installed on top of older insulation that is otherwise still good, but may need a bit of help. It’s an eco-friendly option and can fill irregular spaces very well.

Spray Foam: This modern type of insulation is a mixture of liquid polymers that is sprayed onto your attic, where it expands and creates a dense foamy layer of long-lasting insulation that acts as an air and moisture barrier too!

Benefits of Attic Insulation

If you’re still not convinced that attic insulation is really worth it, the benefits that it can bring to your home are tangible and are often immediately experienced.

Lower Utility Bills: The moment you receive your first utility bill after installation is when you know that attic insulation is really worth it.  According to Energy Star, sealing air leaks and adding insulation to your home can save you up to 10% on your annual energy bill, but it’s the long term savings that really make new insulation worth it. If your home is constantly leaking conditioned air, your furnace or air conditioner is likely working overtime to keep your temperature steady. This results in more wear and tear, increased maintenance, and a shorter life span of your major appliances - in short, more bills. Increasing your attic insulation helps keep that heat where it belongs, reducing the hours you use your HVAC system and reducing your maintenance costs.

It’s Environmentally Sound: While saving money is more than enough for many homeowners, there’s another benefit to reducing your energy consumption, and it is more altruistic - you help reduce stress on the environment and reduce your reliance on the power grid.

Preventing Moisture Damage: Heat tends to rise, which makes the attic a prime location for hot, moist air to collect all year round. When your attic lacks proper insulation, moisture-rich hot air can collect there and cause ice damming and condensation, which can lead to insulation damage and mold growth. Attic insulation is really worth it when it can help prevent problems like mold growth, which can quickly spread throughout your home and cause a range of serious health effects.

Better Indoor Air Quality: Poor insulation usually goes hand in hand with air leaks, and these leaks can allow pollutants like dust, mold, mildew, and VOCs to collect in your home. Over time, these pollutants can seriously affect your indoor air quality and affect your respiratory health.

Safer Home: Removing old, damaged insulation and replacing it with new attic insulation helps make for a safer home. Some types of old insulation contain carcinogens like asbestos, and they can be breeding grounds for mold and collect dust and dirt. Insulation also helps prevent heat buildup in your attic, which can hasten the aging of your roofing and shingles.

It’s Cost Effective

Installing new insulation doesn’t have to be a six figure home renovation. There are many cost effective ways of replacing your attic insulation, and the benefits you receive after installing new insulation more than pay for the cost of installation. It’s difficult to give exact figures, since each home has different building components, climate, weather, and building methods. But you can expect to see changes in your monthly costs right away, regardless of the season - making attic insulation one of the best changes you can do to your home.

Call EcoComfort for More Information on Attic Insulation

Attic insulation is really worth it when it comes to improving your indoor environment, making your home safer and healthier, and improving your energy efficiency. The many factors we’ve listed above make it such a smart investment no matter what is the shape or size of your home. These benefits are contingent on installing insulation right, which is why we always encourage people to work with professionals - the teams at EcoComfort have the education, experience, and safety record to efficiently and effectively help to bring improvements to your home.  If you’re interested in learning more about how attic insulation in Toronto and the GTA is really worth it, get in touch with the experts at EcoComfort for more information on our products and services.