Before the Chill Sets In, Check to See If You Need More Insulation

Mike Rampey ·

A quick visit to the attic of your Broken Arrow home can resolve a nagging worry before winter winds blow: Do I need more insulation? You need to strike a balance between making a worthwhile investment that saves energy, and overstuffing the attic so badly that air circulation is interrupted. 

Before the Chill Sets In, Check to See If You Need More Insulation

How Do I Know if I Need More Insulation?

When you peep into your attic and see the tops of the horizontal framing members—the joists—you know you need more insulation. For the Oklahoma region, recommended levels of R30 to R60 will give your home a warm blanket without wasting money on unnecessary insulation. If you cannot see the joist tops because they are under a thick layer of insulation, you probably have enough. A total thickness, from the insulation between the joists to any top layer, should be between 10 and 14 inches in thickness.

I Need More Insulation!

If your Broken Arrow home’s attic comes up short, you have choices in how it is installed:

  • Hire a professional to blow in loose insulation

  • Buy and unroll unfaced batts at right angles to the attic joists (unfaced means they have no paper or foil backing)

  • Hire a professional to apply expanding spray foam insulation

Materials

Once you determine you need more insulation, you can choose from several materials:

  • Rock wool—water-resistant mineral fibers

  • Fiberglass—the familiar pink or yellow product

  • Spray foam—ideal to fill nooks and crannies

  • Cotton—natural, and non-irritating

  • Cellulose—soft, plant-based insulation

  • Rigid foam boards—ideal for crawlspaces and insulating attic ductwork

Keep the Soffits Clear

At the ends of your roof rafters, the roof overhangs your home’s exterior walls. Soffit vents in that overhang allow air to enter your attic, travel along the roof underside, and exit by ridge vents or roof ventilators. When adding more insulation, the tendency is to go overboard and block the rafter ends. This stops natural convection from keeping your attic air at the same temperature as outside air, ruining energy efficiency.To find more insulation answers for your Broken Arrow home, please contact us at Air Assurance.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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