Expert Advice on Home Improvement TV Host of Emmy®-Nominated Today's Homeowner® and home expert for The Weather Channel

Weathering the Soaring Increase in Heating Costs

Help your budget while helping the planet

You’d be crazy to heat your home by burning dollar bills in the fireplace. Yet many homeowners are wasting money each year by paying for heat that escapes quickly due to inadequate insulation. The National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association (NEADA) estimates that this winter’s home heating fuel prices could rise as much as 47.3 percent. That statistic means it now makes more sense than ever for homeowners to think seriously about adding insulation.

Homes heated with oil will see the biggest increase. NEADA predicts the cost to heat these homes will rise to about $2,157 or $693 more than last year. But there is something homeowners can do to help survive this winter’s hefty hike in the price of heat. The attic, a significant source of heat loss in under-insulated homes, is the easiest place to start to make a significant impact. The U.S. Department of Energy’s latest recommendation for attic insulation levels is an average of R-49.

In addition to the budget-driven need to combat increasing energy bills, there are also incentives – in the form of a federal tax credit if you insulate before the end of the year – for doing something tangible to help the environment. Certain energy efficiency improvements completed before December 31, 2007 can qualify homeowners for a credit of up to ten percent of the cost of the improvements on their 2007 tax returns.

How much of an environmental impact can adding insulation really make? A study from the McKinsey Global Institute calls out insulation as the single most cost effective way to reduce greenhouse gases. Depending on its size and location, an under-insulated home creates one half-ton more CO2 each year than its properly insulated neighbors. Adding extra insulation reduces the energy required to maintain a comfortable living space and lowers emissions generated by burning fossil fuels.

Today, PINK Fiberglas™ insulation maker Owens Corning and home improvement expert Danny Lipford, host of Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford®, a nationally-syndicated weekly half-hour television show for homeowners, are getting the word out to homeowners on how to add insulation simply and easily. Web sites (like www.InsulateYourAtticNow.com and www.dannylipford.com) serve as great resources to help guide homeowners through the process…whether they’re doing it on their own or hiring an insulation contractor.

According to Owens Corning and Danny Lipford, adding insulation to your attic can be a simple weekend project. An afternoon spent in your attic can deliver years of optimum comfort and substantial savings, and it’s as easy as 1 – 2 – 3.

1. See What’s Up There

   The first step is to take a look at the existing insulation up in your attic. In the simplest of terms, if the wood beams (or joists) of your attic floor are still visible, you probably don’t have enough insulation. But even if you can’t see the wood beams, that’s still no guarantee you have enough insulation. The best thing to do is measure. Using a tape measure or yardstick, check the depth of the insulation on your attic floor. To meet the Department of Energy’s recommendation, should have a minimum depth of 15.5 inches of fiberglass batts or about 18 inches of blown insulation for a cozy feeling and optimum energy-efficiency.

2. How much will you need?

   It’s easy to determine how much insulation you will need with a user-friendly insulation calculator found at www.InsulateYourAtticNow.com. Just enter the square footage of your attic and thickness of insulation that you currently have and it will tell you: (1) your current R-value and, (2) how many rolls of insulation you’ll need to purchase (for joists spaced either 15″-16″ apart or 23-24″apart) to achieve the proper depth.

   Also, if there is no existing insulation, start with a paper-faced roll (which creates a vapor barrier). The paper should go down toward the interior of the building. Then, for additional layers, use un-faced insulation. If you are adding to insulation already in place, use un-faced insulation.

3. An Easy Weekend Project

   Once you’ve established how much insulation you’ll need, all you need are a few simple tools and a few hours.

   Here’s a list of basic tools you’ll want to have on hand:

   • Lightweight, squeeze-type stapler
   • Straightedge or 2 x 4 (for scoring and/or cutting)
   • Tape measure
   • Utility knife
   • Portable work light
   • Pole or rake (to push insulation into tight spots)
   • Work gloves
   • Loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirt
   • Safety glasses
   • Dust respirator mask

   And here are a few installation tips to keep in mind:

   • Use boards or sheets of plywood for sitting, kneeling and for cutting insulation.
   • Begin installing at the outer edge of the attic and work toward the center.
   • If spaces between your joists are already filled, lay the new insulation in long runs perpendicular to the joists (crosswise). Use leftover pieces to fill small spaces.
   • If joist cavities are not completely filled, fill them first with the appropriate thickness of insulation. Then continue as directed above.
   • Un-faced fiberglass insulation will not burn, but can cause heat-producing devices to overheat, which can be a fire hazard. Leave at least three inches between insulation and recessed lighting, metal chimneys, gas water heater flues and/or other heat-producing devices. Only recessed lighting fixtures rated I.C. (insulated ceiling) are designed for direct contact with insulation.
   • Areas around masonry chimneys, however, may be stuffed with small pieces of un-faced insulation.

Old Man Winter is just around the corner. Fortunately, so is your local home center, so head up to the attic and keep him outdoors where he belongs.

For more information on how to insulate your attic, visit www.InsulateYourAtticNow.com. You’ll see a step by step guide and you’ll also be able to find home centers or an insulation contractor in your area. For information on how to qualify for a federal energy tax credit of up to 10 percent, visit www.owenscorning.com/insulationfedtxcredit.