TWIN CITIES WEST Blog

The Importance of Insulation for Recessed Lighting

Recessed lighting is an attractive, modern style that many homeowners are choosing today. Recessed lights provide a seamless look for your ceiling by pushing the box that holds the lighting fixture up into the ceiling rather than letting it hang down.

However, when these fixtures open up a hole into the home’s attic, they can cause a major heating problem.

Why Recessed Lights Need Insulation

If you’re wondering, “why is recessed lighting in my attic a problem?” you should consider the implications of opening up a hole into a part of your home that is typically air-sealed. Air-sealing in an attic is an essential part of keeping your home comfortable and your heating and cooling costs low, but recessed lighting can break that seal.

If not properly insulated, recessed lighting will let drafts pass through. Because heat rises, you’re going to find that warm air in your home will steadily escape. The insulation in your attic generally protects against this, but improperly installed recessed lighting provides an easy way for warm air to get around that insulation.

Insulating Your Recessed Lighting

When recessed lighting is installed, one of the most important factors will be the light covers or box covers. These cover the backside of the lighting, providing an effective barrier between the light and the attic. This barrier will help prevent drafts, but the lights can still cause other problems.

If you’re in the market for recessed lighting today, you should be paying attention to the IC rating. IC stands for “insulation contact” and lets you know how compatible your recessed lighting fixtures are with insulation installed in your attic.

While most recessed lighting fixtures produce light using LEDs today and overheating isn’t a major concern, there is still some potential danger presented by the electrical components on the backside of the light. IC-rated lights ensure that your new lighting isn’t creating a potential fire hazard in your attic.

Keeping Your Energy Bills Down with the Right Insulation

The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy strongly emphasizes that insulation is one of the most effective means of reducing your overall heating and cooling costs. Because these costs contribute so much to your utility bills, you really can’t afford to overlook insulation.

If you’re about to install recessed lighting, you’ll have to consider your current insulation situation and what needs to be done to ensure continued efficiency. Blown-in insulation and spray foam insulation will both have different requirements for recessed lighting.

If your last insulation replacement was a long time ago, you might consider taking this opportunity to give your attic a complete refresh.

Get the Insulation You Need for Your Recessed Lighting

Koala Insulation of Twin Cities West can provide you with a full energy consultation to find out just what kind of insulation solutions can help you keep your home more comfortable and save you money on energy bills.

We’ll evaluate your attic and recessed lighting to determine what kind of insulation will work best for you. You can book your free consultation with us today!