Answer honestly
How it works
How does this calculator work?
Seven questions, each scored 0-3 based on how strongly it signals a real gap against today's insulation targets: home age, visible attic depth, ice damming, uneven room temperatures, climbing bills, drafts, and insulation upgrade history. The scoring weights home age and visible depth most heavily, since those are the most direct signals; symptom-based questions (ice dams, drafts, uneven temps) count as secondary confirmation.
This is a screening tool, not a substitute for the free in-home estimate — it's designed to give an honest read before you spend time on a quote, including telling newer, well-performing homes that they probably don't need anything yet.
According to ENERGY STAR, “EPA estimates homeowners save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces, and basements.”
According to the Building America Solution Center, “loose-fill cellulose will settle from 10 to 20 percent over time due to gravity and vibration.”
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Tell Us About Your Home
30 seconds to fill out. Free quote, no high-pressure follow-up.
We've Got It. Here's What Happens Next.
We've got your info and are routing it to a local pro. When they call, here's what to look for in the quote you receive: (1) R-value target — the model energy code for Climate Zone 5 calls for R-49 to R-60 attic insulation; ask what your contractor is quoting to. (2) Air sealing scope — insulation alone does nothing if air leaks aren't sealed first, and Xcel requires a blower door test to rebate it. (3) Rebate handling — ask which programs your specific address qualifies for. Xcel and Efficiency Works are separate programs with separate paperwork, and not every address qualifies for both. (The federal IRA Section 25C tax credit ended December 31, 2025 — no federal insulation credit applies to 2026 work. Xcel Energy's insulation and air-sealing rebate remains active for its gas and electric customers. Longmont Power & Communications electric customers may separately qualify for an Efficiency Works rebate — check your bill to see which utility serves your address. Boulder County EnergySmart pays a third, income-qualified-only rebate as of January 1, 2026.) (4) Removal scope — older homes often need old insulation removed before new install. If a quote skips all four, get another quote.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked about do i need new insulation? quiz
Is this quiz trying to sell me something regardless of my answers?
No — a low score tells you plainly that you're probably not a priority right now. The point of this quiz is an honest screening read, not a sales funnel that always ends in "you need this."
I don't know my attic insulation depth — can I still get an accurate result?
Yes, select "haven't looked / not sure" — the quiz weighs home age and the symptom questions more heavily in that case. A measured depth check during the free in-home estimate fills in the gap this quiz can't answer without seeing your attic.
What if my home is newer but I'm still having comfort problems?
Answer honestly regardless of age — the symptom questions (uneven temps, drafts, bills) will still pull your score up if there's a real issue. A newer home with a specific defect (a missed area, a bath fan venting into the attic) is a different, narrower problem than a pre-1990 home's whole-attic gap, but it's still worth a look.
Does a high score guarantee I'll get a rebate?
No — this quiz only screens whether new insulation makes sense for your home. Rebate eligibility (Xcel, Efficiency Works) depends on separate program requirements covered on the service pages, not on this quiz's score.
How is this different from the R-Value Target Finder?
The R-Value Target Finder assumes you already know your current attic insulation level and want to see the numeric gap against the Climate Zone 5 code target. This quiz is for when you're not sure whether insulation is even worth investigating yet — it works from symptoms and home age instead of a known R-value.
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