Compressed Attic Insulation Fix

If your home is relatively new you likely have a roof ridge vent in the center of your roof.

Compressed attic insulation fix. When compressed to less than its labeled thickness glass fi ber insulation will experience a reduction in r value. R value simply means resistance to heat flow. The chart below indicates the compressed r value of standard building insulation products when installed in framing cavities with a depth that is less than the labeled thickness of the insulation. Because the simplest and cheapest way to insulate an attic is to add material to the floor.

Let s look at an r 19 batt in a 2x6 cavity step 1. These will likely be located along the outer perimeter of your attic floor. Plan to pull up the flooring and layer new insulation on top of the old. Subtract the cavity depth from the thickness of the batt in inches.

Attic insulation replacement is a simple and quick process. The right pro can locate potential safety hazards and pinpoint specific solutions for your home. Locate your attic vents and make sure they are not blocked by insulation. Simple thermal analysis reveals that if you have 5 missing insulation in an attic bare sheetrock you ll have a slightly more than a 54 drop in r value.

Compacted insulation insulation that has been compressed by being walked over or storing boxes on it loses part of its insulation ability. It could take as little as a day to tear out old insulation to secure the attic and protect it from the elements. For wool types of insulation fiberglass mineral wool steel real wool etc while it varies based on material this is typically much denser than we are able to get it via compression on the job site. These thermal defects undermine the r value of your attic insulation.

Yes the compressed r value can be estimated using the following method. Missing insulation at repaired areas in attic it seems pretty obvious that insulation should be put back in place after being pulled back for a repair in the attic but that doesn t always happen. Because installing closed cell foam will seal the attic an alternate method of ventilation is necessary. This often means installing rafter baffles in every rafter space to permit fresh airflow.

How do i fix my insulation problems. Make sure none of these vents are blocked with debris or insulation so that air can easily flow through them. But if the floor is covered in plywood you can t stuff enough insulation beneath it to do the job sufficiently not even in warm climates.