Is your AC running almost non-stop even after a tune-up? The culprit is often your attic. Here are the clearest signs your attic needs more insulation โ and why August in Northeast Arkansas is the best time to catch it before the bills get worse.
First, check your upstairs rooms. If the second floor is noticeably hotter than the first, or your thermostat reads 78ยฐF but the bedroom feels like 85ยฐF, radiant heat is pushing through an under-insulated attic deck. Climate Zone 3 (where Jonesboro and Trumann sit) calls for a minimum R-38 in the attic โ most older homes in the area are sitting at R-11 to R-19 at best.
Second, pull down your attic hatch and look. If you can see the tops of the ceiling joists โ those 2x6 or 2x8 framing members โ you don't have enough. A proper R-38 application of blown-in cellulose lands around 10โ11 inches deep. Closed-cell spray foam at R-6.5 per inch needs roughly 6 inches for a conditioned attic assembly.
Third, look at your energy bills. The average under-insulated home in this region wastes $40โ$80 per month in cooling season alone. New blown-in cellulose runs roughly $1.20โ$1.80 per square foot installed for a standard attic โ a 1,200 SF attic job often pays for itself inside 18โ24 months.
Finally, check for ice dams last winter. If you had icicles hanging off your eaves in January, heat was escaping through that same attic. It's a year-round problem, not just a summer one.
We serve Jonesboro, Trumann, Paragould, and the surrounding areas. Reply or DM us for a free attic assessment โ we'll measure your current R-value and give you an honest quote.