Insulation

The price of energy only seems to move in one direction — up. One of the best ways to help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter is by increasing the amount of insulation in your attic.

According to Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), roughly 90% of homes in the United States are under-insulated, especially attics. In Southern California, where attics can reach extreme temperatures during the summer months, proper insulation can make a major difference in both comfort and energy costs.

Attic insulation does more than help lower utility bills. It can also:

• Improve indoor comfort year-round
• Reduce outside noise
• Help slow the spread of fire
• Reduce strain on heating and air conditioning systems
• Improve overall energy efficiency

It’s one of the few home improvements that can provide a relatively quick return on investment while improving the daily comfort of your home.

Rodents and Attic Insulation

One of the biggest threats to attics in San Diego County is rodents. Rats and mice like attics because they provide a safe, dry, undisturbed environment. Unfortunately, they are terrible house guests.

Mice can urinate hundreds of times a day, contaminating insulation and creating unpleasant odors. Rats tunnel through insulation, leave droppings throughout the attic, and can quickly turn clean insulation into a contaminated mess. In many homes, the only thing separating that attic space from your living area is half-inch drywall.

Once insulation becomes contaminated, compressed, or damaged, it loses much of its effectiveness and often should be removed and replaced.