Too much of anything is bad, even too much insulation in an attic. But can you over-insulate your attic? Could your current isolation be too much? While overinsulated attics aren't as common as underinsulated attics, it's possible to place so much insulation in the attic that it will have a negative impact. Excessive insulation in the attic can cause the house to become too sealed and block ventilation grilles. If the air flow is blocked, moisture cannot escape.
If moisture builds up in the attic and comes into contact with warm air, it can allow mold to form, which can lead to serious respiratory problems in people. In general, the more insulation you have, the better. But there may also be a point where professionals consider it to be “too much”. A home that is too insulated and hermetically sealed can create unintentional problems.
That's why the attic space has to function as a “system”. A house with a poorly insulated attic will experience more significant temperature fluctuations throughout the day. If you're not sure what to do, you might want to do a professional inspection and replace the attic insulation. If you have well-installed attic insulation with a sufficient R-value and are still not satisfied with the results, you may want to consider installing a radiant barrier.
A sealed or unventilated attic has the insulation installed on the roof and not on the roof plane, which makes the attic space the conditioned area of the house. If you have attic insulation with an R value of 38 and you still want your home to be more energy efficient, consider installing a radiant barrier instead. Achieving an R-value of 30 should provide more than enough insulation in the Southern California area, without some of the drawbacks of excessive attic insulation. This leaves the actual attic space above the isolated areas of the house, which is known as conditioned space. If you want to get the best result with the insulation of your new attic, focus your attention on how it is installed.
Aerosol foam products are tested to the same standards as other insulation measures and must be installed according to appropriate standards. If you have four feet of insulation stacked all over the attic, this could affect how efficiently the attic can circulate air. Radiant barriers are a great way to maximize the benefits you get from insulating your attic and to improve your home's energy efficiency. When they learn that their home doesn't have enough insulation, homeowners install more insulation to reduce their utility bills. The spray foam insulation industry has been working hard to standardize installation practices and ensure quality through a series of mechanisms that include independent testing and certification procedures.
A well-insulated attic will completely cover the chosen insulation and will be clean and dry. Before looking at why it's possible to over-insulate, it's worth taking a short detour to learn how attics are supposed to work. As already mentioned, while “too much” insulation is usually not a problem, there can be a downside if the insulating material blocks the ventilation grilles. In conclusion, having too much insulation in an attic can cause serious problems such as mold growth due to moisture build up and blocking ventilation grilles. It is important for homeowners to understand how attics work and how much insulation they need for their particular area. It is also important for homeowners to make sure that their attics are properly insulated and that they are using quality materials that are installed correctly.
