Are your customers’ homes ready for what may be another historically warm summer season? According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2024 was the planet’s warmest year on record.
Conditions below the roof deck—specifically in the home’s attic—can compromise comfort throughout the whole home. Checking conditions in a home’s attic, like attic insulation levels and attic ductwork, can contribute to enhanced comfort in every season. Adequate levels of insulation and properly sized and sealed attic ductwork may also help potentially lower a home’s heating and cooling bills.
Warm air will always move toward cooler locations. The attic is an area where insufficient levels of insulation can allow temperatures to soar into the triple digits in summer months as external heat from the roof flows through the roof deck into the attic and infiltrates conditioned parts of the home. This situation can cause homeowners’ HVAC equipment to cycle on and off more frequently and increase energy usage.
Similarly, insufficient insulation in the winter can allow warm attic air to escape through the roof deck. A frost-free roof in an area where neighboring homes’ roofs are covered with frost is a good indicator that heat is escaping through the roof.
The Role of Attic Insulation
Sufficient levels of attic insulation can help mitigate thermal loss and contribute to comfort throughout the whole home. Just as insulation acts to reduce heat loss in the winter, it also works to impede the transfer of heat from the attic to a home’s conditioned spaces in the summer.
Because the attic is typically shut off from other parts of the house, homeowners sometimes ask why they should be concerned about this heat. Simply stated, heat in the attic doesn’t necessarily stay in the attic. As noted above, heat will always seek to move toward cooler spaces. Having a well-insulated attic can help reduce this heat transfer.
Beyond assuring that airflow is balanced in the attic, roofing contractors should consider the role of attic insulation to help manage humidity in the attic. Moisture that builds up in attics can create conditions favorable for mold growth, wood rot and structural damage. Helping to regulate temperatures, attic insulation helps guard against the threats posed by moisture.
How Much Insulation?
How much insulation is sufficient for a home’s attic space? Every home is unique, but EnergyStar recommends the following guidelines. For homes in the South, a minimum of 13 inches of attic insulation should be installed. In colder climate zones, Energy Star recommends installing a minimum of 18 inches of insulation. Even though these minimums are recommended by EnergyStar, it has been estimated that 90% of homes across the U.S. are under insulated.
Budget is always a consideration and the payback period for adding insulation is relatively brief. According to EnergyStar, done right, a properly sealed and insulated attic may save the homeowner up to $200 annually.
Applying HVAC Insights
HVAC contractors have discovered the benefits of checking out a home’s attic to get to the root of comfort and energy issues. In some instances, a homeowner’s complaint about a system that cycles on and off too frequently, or fails to regulate temperature, may have nothing to do with the equipment. By inspecting attic conditions and ensuring adequate levels of insulation and properly sized ducts are in place, many HVAC contractors have helped improve homeowners comfort and reduce energy bills.
The approach can also build trust.
Bringing a “whole home” approach to caring for a home’s air can differentiate a roofing contractor as an expert on the roof and the whole home. In 2021, Owens Corning developed a program for HVAC Contractors, the AirCare Professionals program. The program starts with a thorough inspection of conditions in the attic. Measuring the amount of insulation currently installed provides a starting point for improving comfort and energy efficiency. AirCare Professionals are equipped with tools to assess attic insulation and determine a level of desired energy efficiency.
Amanda Winckowski is channel marketing manager at Owens Corning, Toledo, Ohio. For more information, go to https://www.owenscorning.com/en-us/insulation/residential/airdistribution/aircare
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