Checking the Status of Your Insulation
Well, it’s too late to expect Santa or reindeer on your rooftop for Winter 2010-2011, but a glance at your roof just after a recent snow can tell a quick story about the state of the insulation in your attic. It’s fairly transparent for all to see, if you know what to look for. If you see any of the following characteristics, you are losing money right out your roof. It’ll only take a few minutes to know if you need to spring into action.
- Does the snow melt in parallel lines running up the roof?
- Is there one section of the roof that melts before the others?
- Does the snow on your roof melt sooner than all the others in your neighborhood?
- Look at the corners as well, next to gables and chimneys. These areas are particularly difficult for contractors to reach. Has the snow in these areas melted sooner than the others?
When comparing your roof to neighbors’ homes or along your own rooftop, remember that darker shingled roofs or roofs facing the sun will melt sooner than the shaded sides or lighter roofs. Be certain to make a fair comparison.
Parallel lines of melted snow indicate that the rolls of insulation have shifted apart, usually at the beams. If only a few lines are apparent, perhaps getting into the attic and shifting the insulation back into place is enough, but if your entire rooftop shows lines, you may be in need of some extra insulation. If you don’t go into your attic but have easy access, consider blowin as an excellent, environmentally friendly insulation option. For a nominal fee you can rent the equipment at your local equipment rental or home improvement store. They typically carry the blowin as well.
If you have one section that is melting prematurely, perhaps the insulation was shifted during attic work. The most common cause for local melting in newer homes is the running of electrical wiring or cables after the home was built. The 15 – 30 minutes you spend climbing into your attic to readjust the insulation can be well worth it in your next energy bill.
As you green your home, consider installing cellulose blowin insulation. In my opinion it is the most environmentally friendly option. Cellulose blowin typically consists of recycled newspapers treated with a non-toxic boric compound as a flame and mold retardant. Cellulose blowin does not have any chemical off-gassing associated with some foam blowin options.
In some cases, your energy savings can be so significant, that you recoup your costs in the next winter month. The return on your investment will depend on the extremity of weather, the state of insulation at the start of the project and how much cellulose you installed.
Have a great time saving money, and know you’re doing a good thing for the environment, too!
