Attic Insulation in Los Angeles

Removing old insulation

Insulation that is compressed, wet, contaminated by rodents or full of debris from old roof work does little and can affect air quality (see indoor air quality). We remove it, seal the gaps around lights, pipes and the attic hatch where hot attic air leaks into the house, then install new insulation to the target depth.

Why is upstairs hotter than downstairs, and what fixes it?

Upstairs bedrooms in a Granada Hills two-story run hotter because they sit right under a hot attic, warm air rises to them, and their cooled air often travels through ducts in that same attic. The fixes start up there, in this order, and a bigger air conditioner is the last check:

1. Seal the air leaks in the attic floor (see removing old insulation), so hot attic air stops flowing into the bedrooms.
2. Have the attic ducts checked for leaks, kinks and missing insulation: ENERGY STAR puts the loss in a typical house at 20 to 30 percent of the air they carry (air duct replacement in Los Angeles).
3. Bring the insulation up to the ENERGY STAR level for Los Angeles (see insulation types and R-values), so less heat comes through the bedroom ceilings.
4. Where the roof over the bedrooms takes full sun, add a radiant barrier (see radiant barrier installation).
5. If the rooms still lag, have the duct runs to them and the system's size checked by load calculation (AC installation in Los Angeles).

Closing downstairs registers to push air up can restrict the system's airflow. We install attic insulation, radiant barriers, air ducts and air conditioners in Granada Hills and across the San Fernando Valley, with a free quote.

What affects attic insulation cost?

Attic size, the target R-value, the insulation type, whether old insulation must be removed, air sealing, and attic access. Our pricing is up front, with no hidden fees, and the quote is free. If the air conditioner itself is near the end of its life, see AC installation.