Common Symptoms
If your home experiences any of these problems, it might be a good candidate for an attic insulation project::
- Drafty rooms
- Hot or cold ceilings, walls, or whole rooms; uneven temperature between rooms
- High heating or cooling bills
- Ice dams in the winter
What to Look For
You might also consider hiring a home energy professional to perform a comprehensive energy audit to pinpoint specific solutions for your home and identify potential safety hazards.
Did You Know?
Many local utilities may offer rebates for a professional home energy assessment and certain home air sealing and insulation projects.
Be sure to contact your utility company before beginning a project to see what incentives are available in your area. You can also check for incentives using the DSIRE database for state incentives.
Savings in Energy and Money

The attic is usually where you can find some of the largest opportunities to save energy in your home. By adding insulation in your attic, you can maintain the desired temperature throughout your home much better. Combined with attic air sealing, it can also help to alleviate the formation of dangerous ice dams in the winter.
If your attic is accessible and not too difficult to move around in, and you enjoy tackling bigger home improvement projects, attic insulating may be a good DIY project. Otherwise, consider finding a contractor to complete the project for you.
Doing the Project Yourself | Hiring a Contractor | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Ease of Project | Time (days) | Costs | Time (days) | Costs |
Moderate − Difficult | 1−3 | $$$ | 1−2 | $$$$ |
Key: $ = <$100, $$$$$ = >$2,000
EPA's ENERGY STAR program provides great DIY resources to help you get the job done. However, if you find any of these conditions in your attic, it is recommended that you consult or hire a professional to correct these problems before proceeding:
- Difficult attic access and limited space to work
- Wet or damp insulation, indicating a leaky roof
- Moldy or rotted attic rafters or floor joists, indicating moisture problems
- Kitchen, bathroom or clothes dryer vents that exhaust moist air directly into the attic space instead of outdoors
- Little or no attic ventilation
- Knob and tube wiring (pre-1930), which can be a fire hazard when in contact with insulation
Did You Know?
You may be eligible for financial assistance to make improvements like air sealing and insulating through your state's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).
For more information, visit the following site on How to apply for Weatherization Assistance.