For a house to be truly energy efficient, it needs more than just the installation of the eco-friendly appliances and equipment. A real change in your energy usage and reduction in utility bills will require a consideration of the whole house, and in particular a look up to the attic.

Home insulation is one of the best ways you can contain heat in your home during the winter so that whether you have a furnace with high or low AFUE rating, your family will feel cozy at a lower cost.

The Importance of Attic and Home Insulation

An attic is the primary source of heat loss in a building. Even homes with the most energy-efficient furnaces will experience extreme heat loss if they lack sufficient insulation. That's because heated air rises and without a barrier of insulation to keep it contained, heated air will leak through your roof and dissipate outdoors. 

The good news is that the attic is one of the easiest places to add insulation.

Know the Right Amount of Insulation

A quick way to determine whether your house needs to add attic insulation is take a peek inside and consider how visible the floor joists of the attic are. If they are at all visible, you'll want to pack more insulation in as the ideal amount is to have insulation be 12 inches above floor joists.

Insulation amounts are measured by their R-values, a unit that describes how well the insulation can stop heat flow. While the bare minimum R-value should be 30 in a home, because Las Vegas can experience some extreme winter lows and summer highs, we recommend R48 or higher for attic insulation in homes throughout the Las Vegas and Henderson areas. Such installation, when done right, can save the average Las Vegas homeowner up to 20 percent off their utility bill!

To learn more about insulating your home, contact your local roofing experts at First Quality Roofing & Insulation today.