Attic Insulation in Tonawanda, Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Orchard Park, New York
Blown in attic insulation in New York.
Insulating Attics with Blow-in, Foam, Fiberglass, Cellulose, Rigid Board
Most homes require additional attic insulation. The minimal levels of attic insulation required by local building codes aren't considered adequate today because of rising energy costs and increasing concern about the environmental damage caused by fossil fuel consumption.
In New York, Frank's Mr. Plumber installs insulation in attics. Our technicians educate homeowners as to how much and what type of insulation is best for your home.
We offer free attic insulation estimates and inspections.
New York Home Insulation Experts
We are a home energy services company with the expertise in home insulation in New York. Call or contact us online for a Free Insulation Estimate & Inspection and save roughly 25% to 45% on your home energy bills.
We service all of New York in areas like Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Tonawanda, and nearby cities.
The best types of attic insulation. In many older houses, the attic is insulated with fiberglass batts that are placed between ceiling joists. If the attic in your house is insulated with fiberglass batts, there's a good chance that this insulation can stay in place beneath a deeper layer of new insulation.
When new attic insulation is installed, it's usually blown into the attic. The advantage of blown (or blow-in) insulation isn't greater R-value; it's the fact that blow-in insulation can be installed faster, more uniformly and with less traffic through the house. Unlike in wall insulation or floor applications, the attic provides enough room for a thick layer of insulation, so the "fluffy" nature of blown insulation isn't a disadvantage.
Blown fiberglass insulation (aka "loose-fill" fiberglass insulation) has an R-value of about 3.4 per in. It comes in dense blocks that are wrapped in plastic. To install the material, each block is cut in half and pushed into a combination shredder/blower machine that feeds a long, flexible installation hose.
Cellulose insulation is made from old newspapers that are shredded and then treated to resist combustion and mold. Since it's made from a waste material, cellulose is considered one of the greenest insulations available.
To insulate walls in new construction "wet-spray" cellulose insulation can be blown between studs. A water-based binder and adhesive keeps this type of cellulose insulation in place as the insulation dries out. The cellulose insulation blown into attics is a dry mix of shredded newspaper rated at R-3.8 per in. It's installed with a blower machine similar to that used to install blown fiberglass insulation.
Baffles and barriers keep attic insulation in place
You can't add more attic insulation without making some provisions to contain it. Otherwise, you might not be able to enter the attic without having insulation spill down into the living space. Another problem can occur when attic insulation extends into the eaves, covering soffit vents and preventing them from working properly. Also, if the attic has HVAC equipment such as an air handler, covering this equipment with insulation will limit accessibility for servicing.
Insulation baffles or barriers (aka dams) take care of these problems. (These are different than radiant barriers.) Some readymade baffles are designed for installation between rafters to keep ventilation channels open. In other situations, an energy technician will fabricate barriers from different sheet materials like plywood or rigid insulation board.
It's a common misconception that adding more attic insulation stops air leaks. The truth is that insulation filters air; it doesn't block it. For proof, you don't need to look any farther than the air filter on your furnace or air handler. It's made of fiberglass, just like fiberglass insulation.
To properly air-seal your attic, energy technicians need to move aside existing attic insulation and expose all the wall framing, can lights, soffits, vent fans and other details; then they seal all the holes, gaps and cracks they can find. They'll also seal around the attic stair or hatch and around chimneys and chases for ducts, plumbing and wiring.
For attic and home insulation, we service Greater Buffalo including Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Tonawanda. Contact Frank's Mr. Plumber today to fix all of your home energy concerns.
