I'm dealing with a tough situation in the South where my A/C can only manage to keep the house at 77°F, even when the outside heat index is soaring around 103°F. Upon checking my attic, I found it stuffed with very old fiberglass insulation that resembles puff balls and is barely up to 6 inches in some areas; there are even spots where it's completely bare. Unfortunately, the blow-in insulation machines at the local stores are all out of order. I'm looking for some cost-effective alternatives for insulation, or should I focus on other strategies to help cool my home first? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
Definitely tackle that attic insulation! Your attic acts just like an oven, heating up your living space. Also, think about adding an attic fan to help expel hot air on one side while letting in cooler air from the other. Just a heads-up, make sure to check if your old insulation might have asbestos before you start any work!
Before you invest too much into new insulation, you might want to read up on how adding more insulation can sometimes yield diminishing returns. Here's an interesting article to check out: [Energy Vanguard Blog](https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-diminishing-returns-of-adding-more-insulation/)
When I faced a similar issue, I went for fiberglass rolls (R30, I think) on top of the existing cellulose insulation. It made a world of difference for both cooling and heating in my home. Plus, it's pretty affordable and not too challenging to install as long as you wear long sleeves and a mask!
Is the attic easily accessible? If so, rolling out batts of insulation might be a practical option! Just measure the space you need, then check out prices to see what fits your budget. It can really make a difference!
That sounds like a smart approach! I love how easy it is to do yourself!