Attic insulation is a cornerstone of effective home thermal protection. With proper installation, it ensures your home stays toasty during winter and cool as a cucumber in the summer, significantly trimming down your heating and air conditioning bills. But what are the crucial considerations when fitting your space with attic insulation? Let’s break it down in this article.
1. Eliminate Every Nook and Cranny
One widespread faux pas during attic insulation endeavors is neglecting the spaces and gaps amidst insulation materials. If these cavities between joists aren’t fully packed with insulation, you’re essentially rolling out the red carpet for energy waste and overworking your heating unit—precipitating its eventual wear and tear.
2. Seal Off All Ceiling Penetrations
Before you dive into enhancing your insulation, cast a critical eye over your attic floor. You’re bound to spot a myriad of tiny holes where wires, pipes, hoses, vents, and other mechanical elements make their appearance. These little breaches serve as gateways for warm air to stealthily infiltrate your attic. To counter this, reach for fire-resistant caulk (often branded as “firestop” or “fire barrier”). Just a word to the wise: regular caulk won’t cut it when it comes to fire safety standards.
3. Proceed With Caution Around Recessed Lights
Should your ceiling host standard recessed light fixtures, exercise extreme caution not to heap insulation over these heat-emitting devices. These unsuspecting fixtures crank out an impressive amount of heat, posing a fire hazard if in contact with insulation. Maintain a safe distance, keeping insulation at least three inches away from the fixtures.
4. Avoid Stuffing Insulation Too Tightly
In the throes of DIY insulation, there’s a tendency to jam in the insulation with a bit too much enthusiasm, under the misguided notion that this fortifies the defense against cold air. However, this strategy backfires. The airy and fluffy nature of insulation materials isn’t accidental; that trapped air is a crucial ally in providing insulation. Squeeze the insulation too tightly, and you’ll squeeze out the air — and with it, the insulating properties.
5. Don’t Neglect the Attic Entry
Virtually all attics feature some form of access—be it a panel, hatch, fold-down door, or pull-down staircase. It’s imperative to lavish these entries with adequate insulation to fend off the invasion of warm air into the attic. For a foolproof solution, consider investing in a pre-fabricated insulated attic door or staircase cover, available for around a starting price of 60 Canadian dollars.
6. Mind Those Vents
It’s common knowledge that most domiciles come equipped with vents, ushering a steady stream of fresh air into the attic. You’ll typically find these vents strategically placed at the soffits, tucked under the eaves, perched at the roof’s apex, or stationed at the gable ends. When you’re in the thick of insulating, exercise caution not to obstruct these crucial ventilation points.
Click here to know more: Attic Insulation in Mississauga, Ontario
Attic Insulation Company Mississauga
Mas Air Home Comfort has long been the No.1 choice for commercial and residential homes, heating and cooling projects, and home insulation in Greater Toronto and surrounding areas. We are committed to providing our customers with energy-efficient home heating and cooling projects while providing you and your family the healthiest, most comfortable, and safest living experience possible all year round. Our HVAC and home insulation specialists offer all types of services, including furnaces, air conditioners, home insulation, water heaters, emergency repairs, and more. With our professionally certified and experienced service staff, we ensure you the best possible service available.
We are committed to providing the highest quality equipment, installation, and construction services at the most competitive prices in the market. Our technicians adhere to strict hygiene requirements, and all equipment and personnel are disinfected, gloved, masked, and fully vaccinated to comply with Covid-19.
Contact us at:
Tel: 1-855-795-1199
Email: [email protected]
Address: 6730 Davand Dr, Unit 8, Mississauga, ON L5T 2K8, Canada
