Attic Insulation In Old Houses

If you re shivering in an old house you may be tempted to hire someone to blow insulation in.

Attic insulation in old houses.

If you live in a newer house you can probably get this information from the builder. Unlike today s airtight homes many old houses have a natural ventilation system. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. They breathe through air leaks and houses built before the 1960s were usually not well insulated.

Even if you bought the house with insulation already installed into it it s best to double check. While it may be acceptable to leave some older insulation types in place replacing it with new insulation with a higher r value will result in energy savings. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. The insulation must meet doe standards.

If you live in an older house you ll have to inspect the insulation. The insulation materials used in older houses are not as effective in keeping heat in as the new ones. Thickness must not be used as the sole factor in determining the r value of loose fill insulation particularly for attic insulation. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.

Sometimes wood products such as sawdust or balsa wood were used at insulation in old homes but these are very ineffective.