I finally checked the actual R-value on my attic insulation and holy crap

So I bought this house 2 years ago and the inspector just said 'looks adequate' about the attic insulation. I was up there last weekend running some ethernet and noticed it looked kinda thin. Got curious, grabbed a ruler, and measured. Turns out I only have about 4 inches of fiberglass up there, which is maybe R-13. For my zone in the midwest that should be like R-49 minimum. I found this fact on the Energy Star website and did the math on what it's costing me. Rough estimate says I've been throwing away like $400 a year on heating and cooling because of that. Now I'm looking at blown-in cellulose and renting the machine from Home Depot for like $50. Has anyone else done this themselves and regretted NOT doing it sooner?

2 comments

2 Comments

robinwalker12d ago

Did you maybe punch the ceiling fan while measuring? Because I did that. Thought I was being all handy and ended up with drywall dust in my hair for a week. But yeah, I did my own attic insulation about three years ago. Rented the machine from Menards, bought the cellulose, and spent a weekend up there looking like a marshmallow ghost in a Tyvek suit. The worst part was trying to not step through the ceiling while working, I fell through once and my leg was dangling into the guest bathroom. Still, best money I ever saved. My gas bill dropped so much that first winter that I actually called the utility company to make sure they weren't billing me wrong. Now I'm that guy who tells everyone to check their attic, like some weird insulation evangelist.

reed.ray11d ago

Three years later and my wife still brings up the leg dangling story at dinner parties.