Attic Insulation & Air Sealing in Lakeland, FL

Attic insulation and air sealing is usually the first place to spend money in a Lakeland house. With July highs averaging 92.1F and long, hot summers, the roof turns the attic into a heat source above every room. Thin insulation and an unsealed ceiling let that heat and humid attic air into the house, and the air conditioner pays for it.

Lakeland Electric's attic rebate

Lakeland Electric lists a $300 rebate for residential customers who upgrade attic insulation. The home must start at R-19 or less, and the finished attic must reach R-30 or more. You schedule a Lakeland Electric inspection before work begins; an Energy Analyst inspects the attic and issues a rebate certificate stating how much R-value to add. You can use any local insulation contractor or install it yourself, and a contractor can accept the certificate as $300 toward the bill. There is a limit of one attic rebate per location.

The targets

Florida's 8th Edition energy code lists R-38 for ceilings in climate zone 2. For existing homes, the Department of Energy suggests R-49 to R-60 for an empty attic in zone 2, or adding R-38 to R-49 over 3 to 4 inches already there. Many older Polk County attics have well under R-19.

Seal before you blow

The big leaks are under the insulation: wall top plates, plumbing and vent chases, recessed lights, bath fans, the attic hatch or stairs, and gaps around ducts and the air handler platform. HomeGuide lists air sealing at $350 to $3,000. Sealing keeps humid attic air from being pulled into the house.

Blown-in or foam?

For a vented attic without ducts, blown fiberglass or cellulose is the economical choice, at $0.90 to $2.40 per square foot by HomeGuide's attic guide. If ducts and the air handler are in the attic, foam on the roof deck can bring them inside the cooled space, at $1,500 to $9,000 by HomeGuide's numbers.

Get a free estimate or call (863) 341-8561 to set up an attic check.