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Every homeowner knows insulation is important, so it's often the first thing we think we need to improve when we're trying to lower our utility bills. We've all seen ads on TV or heard friends tell us that adding insulation will greatly cut energy consumption and save us a lot of money. However, it does no good to add attic insulation if your home's air-conditioned air is leaking out through the windows and doors. Insulation is part of a whole-house system--and not a stand-alone cure-all to energy inefficiency.

Take a few minutes to look through some of the examples and explanations below. Then, when you're ready to work with your home's insulation, choose an insulation specialist who has earned the Rosie on the House seal of approval.

If I install an energy-efficient roof, do I still need insulation?

No matter how good your roof is, you need insulation in your attic. And chances are, you need more than you already have. Read full FAQ

Is insulation just for energy efficiency?

Here are some of insulation’s benefits beyond energy savings: comfort, quiet, fire protection, frost protection. Read full FAQ

My home is drafty and too hot. What should I do first?

Replace the insulation in your attic. If you buy expensive, energy-efficient appliances and a new air conditioner, they’re going to have to fight with the leaks in your roof, which will diminish their efficiency. Read full FAQ

What is the difference between U-factor and R-value?

When you add insulation to your attic, you’ll want to know the R-value. It’s a measure of how well a product resists heat loss. The higher the R-value—in floors, walls and roofs—the more energy efficient it is. Read full FAQ

See full lists of FAQs

Need someone to ask about your insulation questions? Many Arizona homeowners have gotten their answers from Rosie on the House.

Donna (5:19 into segment) What is better for attic insulation: roll down batts or blown-in cellulose? May 23rd, 2009

Chuck (4:19 into segment) I'm adding blown-in insulation to my attic. Should I upgrade to R-19, R-24 or R-34? May 16th, 2009

Jerry (3:20 into segment) Can I use insulation to soundproof my master bedroom? April 18th, 2009

Fran (4:48 into segment) The room on the corner of my house is warm in the summer and cold in the winter. How can I insulate the walls of that room? December 27th, 2008

Commentary (beginning of segment) Are radiant barriers a cure-all for my attics insulation? September 27th, 2008

Radio show archives and show times.

Energy-loss evaluation probably worth its cost

    If your house is too warm and your energy bills are too high, don’t guess why. Hire a pro to figure it out before you invest a lot of money in updating your air conditioning unit or replacing your drafty windows.

    Those big-ticket items could be contributing to the problem, but they’re probably not the core of the problem.

    In fact, says my friend Daniel Carpenter, an investigator and operations manager with DRW Home Performance in Tempe, the insulation in your attic is the first thing you should replace when your home starts feeling uncomfortable during warm weather.

    “Once you get the … insulation properly installed, then you can look at other things that might really help you,” like compact fluorescent light bulbs, a higher-efficiency air conditioning unit and even solar panels, says Carpenter, whose firm evaluates Phoenix-area homes for energy loss.

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