If you live in a house that seems to feel cold too often, then read this article to learn how to warm it up. Since most heat loss in a house goes straight up through the roof, it makes total sense to reduce as much as possible and save money each and every month from now on. Just add additional ceiling (attic) insulation. This article will show you step by step how to install rolls, bats or even blown-in insulation.
Things you'll need: 2nd person,
flashlight and preferable a 20 Amp electrical outlet.
Visit your home improvement store and purchase enough bags of blow-in insulation to install at least 6 additional inches of insulation. I would suggest blowing-in about 12". Borrow the store's blow-in machine which should be free if you purchase their insulation. Also purchase styrofoam or cardboard soffit baffles. Buy enough to install one every 8 to 10 feet around the perimenter of your attic.
Walk around your home and notice how the ventilation system works. A correctly vented attic should allow intake air into your attic through the underside of your overhangs. This air is supposed to enter the attic, flow upward, picking up heat and moisture with it and then dissipate through vents in the roof near the top, continuous ridge vents at the ridge or through a power exhaust fan also mounted in the roof.
Baffles must be installed parallel with the pitch of your roof (normally) and just above the perimeter walls of your house. These baffles will insure an opening for the ventilation to occur after you blow in additional insulation by not clogging openings to the overhangs. Allow these baffles to extend up into the attic for at least 18" if possible. Try not to blow any new insulation into the baffles which when properly installed, have created a channel between the bottom of your roof and the baffle itself.
Setup the blowing machine in the garage or just outside it. Attempt to locate a 20 amp outlet so that you don't experience typical blown breakers when actually installing the new insulation. Stack the bags nearby for easy access once you get going.
Armed with a strong flashlight and a mask which covers your nose and your mouth, send someone up into the attic with the open end of the blow in hose. Assuming baffles are installed, communicate with your helper that you are ready to start. Establish that the helper will turn the machine off in about 3 minutes after you have started. This will insure that you are doing ok and that it's ok to continue. Frequent breaks are a good idea.
Once underway, experiment with the hose and remember - the most important thing is to keep the end of the hose moving. Otherwise you will probably pile up too much insulation in one spot. If this happens, usually you can spread it out with a stick or even blow it around some with the hose.
As you start, glance around the attic and see if it is possible to see something about the same height as the amount of insulation you want to add. Use this as gauge as you install.
My suggestion is to start at one end of the attic and work back toward the middle. Always go to the far end and work back towards the access to the attic.
With blown-in insulation, you are to cover all things. Possible problem areas include some can lights, although most are safe if they are already installed in the attic. Sometimes there are depressions in the attic. These might be opening to interior walls or soffits. Generally, I would not stuff these full.
Frequently it makes sense frame a wood member about 12" tall around the opening access hole. This will allow insulation to not fall down through the access but still properly insulate the ceiling around it.
A lot of dust will be created while blowing. Take breaks to clean your mask, dust off your glass and stretch as you progress. The whole process will probably take about 4 hours depending on each individual situation.
It's possible that your hose will become clogged. If this happens you will know it as all insulation will stop flowing out of the hose. Tap on the hose in different places with a board and it will unclog.
Take one last search of the job you've just done before leaving that section of the attic. That way you can fix that problem now because later you won't be able to reach it probably. Feel good about your accomplishment. Afterall, if you took all the exposed ceiling rafter and slid them together, think about all the area that did not have any insulation. Now it does!
Sweep up the mess around the blow-in machine and clean it as well to avoid any fees. Return any unused bags of insulation and the now clean machine.
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* A minimum of 2 people is required to do this.
* If possible arrange a way of communicating between all parties involved.
* Use an electric light in the attic for maximum viewing, if possible.
* NEVER stick your arm into the hopper of the blow-in machine. Use a stick instead.
* Don't attempt this job without a mask. You will regret it later!
