If you?re a little light on attic insulation, you?re paying for that insufficiency every time you get an electric bill. You?re also paying a human toll, by sacrificing comfort in your home.
Upgrading your insulation can potentially reduce your energy use by 20 to 40 percent, improving your home?s comfort and slashing your power bills.?And, with the current?Utah insulation rebate programs offered by Rocky Mountain Power and Questar Gas, you can accomplish these goals with a minimal out-of-pocket investment.
But, to save even more on the cost of your insulation upgrade, should you attempt a?do-it-yourself attic insulation project? Many northern Utah homeowners think this is a good idea ? but is it? The reality is that you may not have all the knowledge and resources you need for a DIY project.
Do You Know What Kind or How Much Attic Insulation You Need?
What type of insulation does your attic need? Your choices range from blankets, batts, rolls, blown-in, spray foam and radiant barrier insulation ? and everything in between. You?ll also have to determine which materials are most appropriate, such as plastic, cellulose, cotton, wool, fiberglass and loose fill.
What about R-values? Do you know the current R-value of your attic, or what the optimal rating is for your home? Do you know what the?insulation R-value means?
Insulating your attic with the right type and amount of insulation requires a detailed analysis conducted by an industry expert with the proper knowledge, training and experience.
Do You Have the Resources Necessary for DIY Attic Insulation?
Not only do you need knowledge and experience to properly install?insulate your?attic, but you also need the licenses, insurance,?tools, equipment and material suppliers.
For example, most attic insulation projects in Salt Lake City and the surrounding communities of northern Utah require a?building permit.??And obtaining a permit means that the work must meet or exceed all current standards and applicable building codes.
If you need to dispose of any old insulating materials, you must have the proper safety certifications and authorizations to dispose of those materials legally.
Finally,?do you understand the safety issues related to?insulating an?attic? For example, unless you have appropriate ventilation in the attic, you could end up with trapped moisture that could encourage the growth of dangerous mold and potentially degrade the structural elements of?your roof.
Do You Want to Benefit from the Utah Attic Insulation Rebate Programs?
To take advantage of the substantial rebates offered by Rocky Mountain Power and Questar Gas, your?insulation?project must be installed by a licensed contractor approved for participation in the respective programs.
So, however much money you might save on a DIY attic insulation project, you are unlikely to save as much as you would get back through the rebate programs.
Before you make any decisions about a do-it-yourself insulation project, call the experienced team at?GreenHome Specialties. We have?locations in?Layton and?Provo, but we serve customers throughout northern Utah. Contact us?for a free basic home energy audit, performed by our Certified Energy Analysts, to learn how you can benefit from upgrading the attic insulation in your Utah home.
