I live in Atlanta and am thinking about having my attic insulated with blow-in insulationI currently have a mixture of the original mid-1960's cellulose insulation that is basically dirt now with rolled insulation laid on topWith that in mind, I have some questions:1Should I remove the rolled insulation or have the blow-in laid on top of it?2What type of insulation (cellulose or fiberglass) should I be looking to get from a vendor? What R rating should I request?3Is there anything I should be aware of or careful about when selecting a someone to do this and when it is actually done.4What prices should I expect to pay for a minimum of 18quot; blown in on about 2600 square feet of attic space?5If anyone lives in Atlanta and can recommend some companies that do blow-in insulation, I would appreciate itI'd rather give my business to an independent company than Lowe's or Home Depot.Any help would be most appreciatedThanks.
Properly insulating and air sealing your attic will help reduce your energy billsAttics are often one of the easiest places in a house to insulate, especially if you’d like to add insulation Loose-fill or batt insulation is typically installed in an atticAlthough installation costs may vary, loose-fill insulation is usually less expensive to install than batt insulationWhen installed properly, loose-fill insulation also usually provides better coverageNote: If you think you have vermiculite insulation in your attic, there’s a chance it could contain asbestosDon’t disturb itOnly insulation contractors certified to handle and remove asbestos should deal with vermiculite insulation.
i would reccomend keeping the same duct workif it works properly now then it will work with the new systemthe 95% furnace is the way to goit will save 15-20% on your gas bill.
First thing is not to automatically go with the low bidderMy recommendation is to ask a lot of questions before selecting a contractorSee who is on the top of their gameDon't be afraid to challenge the contractor responsible for your comfortRemember, that's what they are there forFrom the information you provided they all seemed competitiveYour final decision should be to consider the most professional and thorough company of the bunchThe good thing is that all four of these companies are quoting you reputable productsAmerican Standard is the top of the line for quality equipment these days, but Trane is not that far behindAs far as I know, Trane aquired American Standard HVAC as of about 2 years ago As far as the equipment, I see the companies that quoted American Standard included new lines with their numberWith the new refrigerant (R-410a) that has replaced the old (R-22), the need for new refrigerant lines is very importantThe oils from the two refrigerants do not mix well and will cause a freeze up if the do not properly evacuate the oil during installationIf you opt out of new lines just be sure that the old lines are thoroughly flushed, that nitrogen is added to the pipes during brazing and a good vacuum (between 800-500 microns) is achieved before chargingAlso make sure that the company performs sub-cooling calculations when the A/C is testedThe desired subcooling should be provided by the manufacturerAmerican Standard will list the desired subcooling directly on the outdoor unitThis last step is very important for the new units that use R-410a Ask for a start up sheet with the calculations upon completionMake sure that they note all the proceedure performed and that you are happy with their work before issuing the final payment.
