Attic Sealing and Attic Insulation – Get Paid to Upgrade!
Good news! The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit will help you to pay for your attic sealing and insulation. San Diego homeowners can benefit from lower utility bills, and cleaner air quality.
The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit provides a 30% tax credit for sealing and insulation. There is no maximum credit.
Here’s some information to help you decide if you should take advantage of this awesome program:
- Attic Sealing – why it’s even more important than attic insulation
- Attic Insulation – different types of insulation, and how to choose the R-Factor
- Radiant Barrier – a third step to upgrade your attic
- Benefits of Attic Sealing and Insulation
- How to apply for the SDG&E rebate
- Other ways to finance home energy upgrades
Attic Sealing vs. Attic Insulation
You already know that you need attic insulation to keep your house warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. However, the insulation doesn’t work very well unless your attic is properly sealed. If your budget is tight and you have to choose between insulation and sealing, choose attic sealing.
Attic insulation acts like a wool sweater in a cold, windy climate. As a result, the cold wind will blow right through it, if you don’t have a protective outer layer.
This is where attic sealing comes in. Attic sealing closes up all the holes where air can leave or enter the house, keeping the temperature more constant and saving you money on heating and cooling costs.
Attic Insulation – What to Look For
There are two main types of insulation that are used in attics: batts and blown-in cellulose.
(Since we’re talking about attics, I won’t discuss foam insulation, which is often used in walls.)
Blown-in cellulose is considered superior to batts. They allow for much less air to pass through. They are also eco-friendly, made from recycled and treated newspaper.
If your house is built after 2000, your attic insulation is most likely in good condition and reasonably effective. If your home’s attic insulation is older than that, you may want to replace it. Many houses built prior to the 1960s have no insulation at all!
My house was built in 2000, and I am upgrading because I want attic sealing to improve air quality, and better insulation. My home currently has R-14 insulation – I am upgrading to R50+.
Older insulation isn’t as effective, and insulation also breaks down over time. The two most common kinds of attic insulation are blown-in cellulose and blown-in fiberglass, and they cost about the same. Blown-in cellulose is an organic material, mostly made of recycled newspaper. I prefer blown-in insulation, because it is effective and low-cost, and I prefer blown-in cellulose, because it’s more environmentally friendly.
Avoid batts and rolls, which are preformed blankets of insulation, because it’s hard to fit them properly. (Tip: While batts and rolls are not good for attics, you can use them to wrap your heating and cooling ducts.)
How much insulation is “enough”? Read this excellent article about how insulation works, and the law of diminishing returns. When it comes to the R-Factor, choose R-40 or higher.
Radiant Barrier – An Extra Step
A radiant barrier in your attic will keep hot air from entering your attic and your home during hot weather. It’s an extra step to improve your home’s efficiency. The Department of Energy’s website has a great article that explains the benefits of radiant barriers.
Benefits of Attic Sealing and Attic Insulation
While the SDG&E rebate program is geared to reduce heating and cooling costs, there are other benefits to upgrading your attic sealing and attic insulation.
Consistent Temperature – Comfort
Many homes don’t have a consistent temperature throughout a room. For example, the ceiling may be hot, and the floors may be cold. Proper insulation creates more comfortable rooms, that have consistent temperatures at the ceiling, floors, walls, and windows.
Air Quality
Besides keeping your home’s temperature more constant, attic sealing also improves your home’s air quality. Here’s a good reason to avoid air from moving back and forth between your living area and your attic: your attic’s air is dirty. Attics are usually very dusty, and contain allergens and pollutants. In addition, attic air can also contain particles from previous rodent infestations. Older insulation also breaks down into the air over time. For all of these reasons, attic sealing protects you and your family from breathing that dirty air.
Watch this really cool 1-minute video from Conservation Services Group about air sealing and insulation.
Two Steps to Sealing and Insulation
Before adding the insulation, you want to ensure that your attic is well sealed.
Step One: Attic Sealing
Attic sealing mostly involves caulking and spray foams. If you contractor spots any large holes, he or she may use other materials to block them off before caulking. After your seal your attic, the next step is to make sure you have adequate insulation.
Step Two: Attic Insulation
After attic sealing, the contractor will install new insulation. Don’t forget your attic hatch! The contractor should apply insulation to the back of any attic hatches, to achieve proper insulation.
How much insulation is “enough”? Read this excellent article about how insulation works, and the law of diminishing returns. Most importantly, when it comes to the R-Factor, choose R-40 or higher.
Other Ways to Finance Home Energy Upgrades
You can take advantage of a Renovation Loan, or an Energy Efficient Mortgage, to pay for energy upgrades, including sealing and insulation.
Read about CalHFA Energy Efficient Mortgages, which offer generous grants to help fund improvements. Also, Fannie Mae also offers a conventional Energy Efficient Mortgage, and the Veteran’s Administration offers an Energy Efficient Mortgage for active military and veterans.
The Bottom Line
Attic sealing is one of the least expensive upgrades you can make to save money on heating and cooling costs, and keep your home more comfortable.
Without proper attic sealing, your attic insulation won’t work very well. Check with your contractor for rebates and incentive programs.
Read my article about other SDG&E rebates and incentives. Lastly, if you have central air conditioning, you also qualify for a rebate on a smart thermostat from SDG&E.
Thank you for contributing to this article:
Mark M. Pulis is the owner of Residential Raters LLC, an energy efficiency firm for homes and small buildings. Mark provides consultations regarding HVAC systems, solar panel installations, energy consumption, energy efficient mortgages, and more. He is a certified Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rater by California Home Efficiency Rating Services, and is also certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) as a Building Analyst and Envelope Specialist. Contact him at (858) 869-9412 or via his website.
