| Blanket-style insulation will be best for you if you want to install attic insulation yourself. It is very easy to unroll and install blanket-style insulation in your attic. Furthermore, the installation of blanket insulation is not very messy and the insulated material stays in its place. Apart from this, you should also apply cellulose or vermiculite insulation at a greater depth as the joists are mostly about six inches deep. |
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| If you are installing attic insulation for the first time then the thickness of the insulation should be about six inches whereas in an attic where a thin layer of attic insulation has already been applied a four-inch blanket will be appropriate. Blanket insulation is mostly available in 24 inch wide rolls. You should also check the r-rating of the insulation product you are buying. R-rating tells you how fast heat will travel through the insulation material you use for attic insulation. Mostly insulation with a high r-rating is better. |
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| Safety Precautions to Follow Before Adding Attic Insulation |
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| You must take certain safety precautions before beginning the process of insulating your attic as the glass fiber insulation can cause irritation on your skin and in your eyes and lungs. Wear a long sleeved shirt to cover the skin before starting the process of adding attic insulation and wear safety goggles and a face mask to protect your eyes and lungs. You must also wear gloves while handling the insulation material so that there is no irritation in your hands. |
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| Heat Pumps |
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| Central heating is provided by heat pumps through warm air taken from outside. It works in the opposite way to cool your home in the summers. Heat pumps are very efficient for central heating in homes as they save energy and lead to lower heating bills. Also they are not as noisy as other central heating systems. However, if you live in a very cold area, then you need a backup for heating your home. Heat pumps are also very costly. |
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| Procedure for Adding Attic Insulation |
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| The following steps are involved in adding attic insulation. |
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- Gather all the materials you need for attic insulation. These include shop vacuum, plastic sheets, a heavy-duty staple gun and a pair of utility scissors having long blades.
- The next step for attic insulation is the vacuuming of the floor to clean away all the dust and debris.
- After that, kneel on the board at one side of the attic and unroll the first blanket between the joists. Make sure you lay the insulation material with the baffles in the eaves so that there is proper ventilation. Roll it along the blanket across the floor and watch out for any wiring which should be above the insulation so that it does not get over heated.
- Using the utility scissors cut the blanket where necessary so that it fits in the space. Make sure that there is no space between the ends. Continue the process until the attic floor is covered with insulation material.
- Cut a section of the blanket to put in the attic opening and some plastic sheets to wrap around the insulation. The plastic sheet will keep the attic insulation from irritating your eyes and skin when you move around the attic.
- Staple the insulation in place by using a staple gun. Your attic insulation is complete.
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| You will notice a significant reduction in your energy costs after you have installed attic insulation. This is one project which you should not delay. |
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