The attic can be one of the easiest, most efficient places to add energy savings that quickly add up, cutting your energy bill often substantially. AttiCat Expanding Blown-In fibreglass insulation from Owens Corning is a self-feeding system optimized for minimal handling, has a fully-enclosed blowing system, leaves virtually no mess, doesn’t settle, and allows for complete attic coverage in as little as two hours.
AttiCat blown-in insulation works hard so you don’t have to – so let’s find out how to put it to work to stop heat from escaping your attic this fall and winter.
Seal Air Leaks
Any gaps in your attic, or between lower floors and your attic, will allow air to escape – making your attempts at insulation effectively useless. Before getting started with insulation, examine draft-prone areas for gaps, including around attic windows, around pipes, wires, exhaust fans, and ducts, and around chimneys and flues.
Fix Roof Leaks
With fibreglass insulation, water creates a breeding ground for mildew and mould, and destroys the pockets that inhibit heat flow. Before blowing in your AttiCat insulation, examine your attic for signs of a leaky roof, like damp or mouldy spots on attic joists, and water stains on roof sheathing.
Direct Exhaust Fans and Vents Outside
Especially if you have an older home, ensure all vents are directed to the exterior of your home so that humid exhaust air won’t become trapped in your AttiCat insulation, ruining it. Although it’s against building code to vent exhaust into an attic, some builders have leaned on this as a shortcut, and being prudent to correct this will ensure the greatest efficacy and longevity of your new insulation.
Preserve Airflow
Stapling foam or plastic baffles to your roof sheathing near the eaves will keep insulation material from making contact with your roof’s underside. This space needs to maintain airflow from the soffits to the ridge vent to keep the roof cool and prevent ice dams.
Insulate
With AttiCat Expanding Blown-In fibreglass insulation, first, fasten some blocking around the attic hatch (or door). This will allow the insulation material to be installed without escaping. Next, screw depth guides to the joists throughout your attic to make it easier to visually assess how level your insulation is as it’s blown in. In order to achieve your target R-value, make sure to use the number of bags – never fewer – according to your calculations based on your own attic. Even when you’ve reached your target depth, you can continue adding bags until all of the bags according to your calculations have been used up. Lastly, holding the blower hose parallel to the floor and floor joists will help you achieve the desired density for your insulation as you install it.
With its simple installation, energy efficiency, and thermal properties, achieving year-round comfort and cost-savings is a breeze with AttiCat Expanding Blown-In fibreglass insulation from Owens Corning.