Just realized my attic insulation is only R-19 after a decade in this house

I was up there yesterday looking for a box and decided to check the tag on the old batts. They're from the 80s and only rated for R-19, which is way under the R-38 we should have for our climate zone here in Albuquerque. I always wondered why the second floor got so hot in the summer (like 85 degrees even with the AC on). Now I know the main reason. Has anyone else found old, weak insulation and upgraded it themselves? I'm trying to decide if it's a DIY job or if I should call someone.

3 comments

3 Comments

tarar271mo ago

Honestly this feels like a universal homeowner thing, finding some outdated detail that explains years of minor annoyances. We had the same shock with our original single pane windows making every winter drafty. It's wild what builders got away with back in the day.

the_angela1mo ago

Yeah, the "what builders got away with" part is so true. We found out our kitchen vent hood just recirculated grease back into the air instead of venting outside. It explained why the cabinets were always sticky no matter how much we cleaned.

laura_black311mo ago

Know exactly what you mean, tarar27. We found out our bathroom fan just blew air into the attic, not outside, explaining years of moldy smells. It's like these old houses are full of little secrets. You just keep finding these choices that make no sense now. Makes you wonder what they were thinking when they built the place.