If you are concerned about the high cost of heating and cooling your home, maybe you don't have a well insulated attic. Insulating the floor of the attic is one of the most important things you can do to improve heating and cooling efficiency.

It is not necessary to completely insulate the attic. In fact, it can be counter productive to insulate the attic too well. Proper attic insulation is an important investment in your home because it reduces fuel bills in several ways.

Winter and Summer Weather Both Make Insulating the Attic a Good Idea

In the winter, that expensive heat rises. If the attic floor is not insulated, the heat goes right through the ceiling, into the attic, and on out of the house. If the attic floor is insulated, the heat stays inside the living area of the home. If needed, a ceiling fan can help to circulate the warm air so that it continues to keep people comfortable.

On the other hand, in the summer, the attic takes in the heat from the sun right through the roof. If the attic floor is not insulated, that heat comes right on down into the living areas. If the floor is insulated, the heat is trapped before it makes it into the home, so the home stays cooler.

But in both winter and summer conditions, it is important for the attic to be properly vented as well as insulated. You can insulate the walls of the attic part way up, but the peak of the roof can be left uninsulated.

Types of Attic Insulation Available

Attics can be insulated with one of several types of insulation. The puffy fiberglass sheets of insulation are one of the best known and are easy to work with. Fiberglass insulation comes in different R- values, which correspond to how well they resist the transfer of heat.

The higher the R value, the better the insulating ability of the insulation. When insulating the floor of the attic, remove any boards that may make up the attic floor, and place the batts of insulation between the rafters.

Staple in place with a staple gun, attaching to the rafters. If it is easier or makes more sense to insulate the ceiling from the inside of the house, you can remove any decorative ceiling tiles and attach the batts of insulation from below, in the house.

Another common type of insulation is blown in insulation. This needs to be applied with a blower, and should be done from inside the attic, beneath any attic floor boards. Blowers can often be borrowed so that you can apply the insulation.

A third type of insulation that is sometimes used in attics are rigid foam panels, such as what is used on exterior walls. These can be cut to fit using a circular saw.

Don't forget to install ventilation in your attic when you insulate it. Attic ventilation helps with the level of humidity on the exterior of the home, and is one of the best measures you can take to eliminate mildew and mold growing on the north side of your home. Vents range in price and quality from quite inexpensive to high quality wind turbines. Any ventilation is better than none where the attic is concerned.

See Also: Attic Radiant Barriers