Add Insulation Do you know the R-values of your home?   If your home was built before 1980, it probably doesn't have sufficient insulation, which is expressed in R-value.   Because heat rises, the most important place to have sufficient insulation is in the attic.   For instance, if your attic has fiberglass insulation that is 6 inches thick, the R-value is R-19; adding another 9 ½ inches by rolling out batts or blankets of insulation over the existing insulation will give your attic an insulation factor of R-49.   The Department of Energy recommends R-49 for attics in our area.   At minimum, your home should have 12 inches of insulation in the attic for a value of R-38.   If you have less than 12 inches, roll enough insulation over the existing insulation to raise the insulation level to R-49. Recommended DOE R-Values Gas/Oil Electric NH Energy Building Code Attic R-49 R-49 R-49 Cathedral Ceiling R-38 R-60 R-38 Exterior Walls R-13 R-21 R-19-21 Floor Over Unheated Space R-25 R-25 R-30 Crawlspace Walls R-19 R-19 R-13-19 Basement Interior Walls R-11 R-19 R-13-19 For a complete guide to adding insulation to an existing home, visit the U.S. Department of Energy's Consumer Guide.     < Prev: Stop the Leaks Next: Heating >