90 percent of attics aren't properly insulated. Where do you stand?

According to the Insulation Institute, 90 percent of attics in the United States are not properly insulated. That’s a staggering number.

Attic insulation works to cut down heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. And if that doesn’t grab your attention, consider that having your attic under-insulated is costing you thousands of dollars in energy bills.

Couto Construction can fix the problem. But how do you know if you have a problem?

Consider these questions:

Is your home uncomfortably hot or cold? If you answered yes, your attic is likely not sealed off from the living spaces in your home. Blown cellulose insulation has superior R-value compared to fiberglass batts, and it’s durable and won’t compress.

Are some rooms hotter or colder than others? Your likely problem is both improper insulation and poor air sealing. An air leak in the attic will directly affect the room below it, but also impacts the rest of the home. The leak can come from gaps in everything from pipe ducts to wire penetrations, and your attic floor is full of gaps and seams. Couto Construction will identify and seal those leaks before proceeding with insulation.

Does your home smell musty, or do you have asthma or allergy issues? Musty smells mean airborne spores or mold that are usually the result of leaky or unsealed attic seams. It’s also a health concern and can contribute to asthma or allergies. Nobody deserves a sick home.

Are your utility bills out of control? Substandard insulation forces your HVAC system to work harder to heat your home in the winter and cool it in the summer. Fix your attic insulation problem and lower your bills. It’s really that simple.

Do you have ice damns at your gutter line? If snow melts on your roof and refreezes at the gutter, it’s probably because the heat in your home is leaking into the attic. Proper insulation will keep the heat where you want it. In your home!

Have you checked your attic? The easiest way to tell if you have proper insulation is to poke your head up there and look! The U.S. Department of Energy recommends having between 13 and 18 inches of insulation depending on the climate in your area.

The proper type of attic insulation makes a huge difference in efficiency and comfort, which is why Couto Construction uses blown-in cellulose insulation. It is a highly effective material that will raise your insulation R-value to the recommended levels that your attic needs.

In addition to servicing Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, we also serve the North Dighton, MA area.