As fall is here and winter is soon approaching, now is a good time to check your insulation. Let’s be honest, this is a pretty smart move! Ensuring that your insulation is in proper shape can save your hard-earned money in the long run. At Ridgecon we encourage you to keep watch and make sure things are in working order before the colder weather kicks in.
What is insulation?
Before we get into the details of checking your insulation, let us digress a little.
What is insulation? Insulation acts as a heat loss and heat gain barrier in roofs, ceilings, walls, and floors. Insulation can serve as a cost-effective way to make the home more energy-efficient and keep it cooler in the summer and warmer during the winter. Insulation can also reduce condensation and mold build-up in homes.
Having proper insulation in your home is essential for many reasons. If you believe you might have a problem with the insulation of your home, make sure to schedule a professional insulation inspection. Remember, Ridgecon consists of a professional team of insulation contractors (one of the best in Michigan), who can check your attic insulation.
What is included in an insulation check?
First thing’s first, professional contractors will have everything they need in check. Equipment like boards to walk on if needed, tape measure, flashlights, adequate head protection, safety glasses, gloves, etc.
Professionals will also make sure to check if the attic they will be inspecting has vermiculite insulation. This insulation which is made out of lightweight, pea-size, flaky gray mineral (vermiculite) may contain asbestos. This means that if your home is insulated with this material, it should be tested for asbestos.
Insulation levels
Once you your home has tested asbestos free. Your contractor will do a quick check for insulation levels. This is a simple check, mainly consists of looking across the attic. If it’s level is below the attic floor joists, you will probably need to add more of it. If you cannot see any of the beams because the insulation is above them, that means you likely have enough insulation. Don’t forget; it’s also important that the insulation is evenly laid out with no low spots. If it is not evenly distributed, cost-effectiveness, heat gain, and loss capabilities may also suffer.
Measuring insulation
Your contractor will either read the R-value printed on the bats of your existing insulation or will use a measuring tape to measure it.
In the next step, your contractor will use charts to calculate the R-value of your insulation. This can be simply done by multiplying the measured depth (inches) with the number provided in the charts. First, your contractor will determine the type of insulation your home has. The calculated number will indicate the R-value of your existing insulation. If it is less than the recommended levels, your roof contractor might advise adding more insulation to your attic.
In conclusion
These are a few simple steps you should take to make sure your insulation is ready for the cold weather. If you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to call us. Remember, Ridgecon is the roofing company that cares!