Hot Springs County, WY Insulation Payback
Is attic insulation worth it in Hot Springs County, WY?
Hot Springs County sits in IECC climate zone 6 (Cold) — cold enough that heating, not cooling, is what decides the bill. For a currently uninsulated attic, DOE and ENERGY STAR recommend building up to R-60. For an attic around 1,000 square feet, closing the gap from R-2 to R-60 costs around $3,480 and saves an estimated $1,907 a year — payback in roughly 1.8 years. Few home upgrades pay back that quickly.
Heating vs. cooling in Hot Springs County
Heating accounts for about $1,789/year of that and cooling about $118/year — Hot Springs County needs both. Nationally, Hot Springs County ranks in the 78th percentile for insulation savings potential. Compared only against its own climate zone, Hot Springs County places 440th out of 459. Against Wyoming's own average of $2,161/year, Hot Springs County runs 12% below that.
Hot Springs County's actual weather, not a national average
NOAA's THERMOPOLIS, WY US station, 12.6 miles from Hot Springs County, supplies the 6,690 HDD and 737 CDD this estimate runs on. That combined heating-and-cooling load ranks Hot Springs County 694th nationally by total degree days — the 78th percentile. Its moisture regime is classified dry, which matters for whether the attic needs a vapor retarder as part of the job — worth asking a contractor about locally.
Already have some insulation?
Already have a few inches up there? Topping R-11 up to R-49 runs about $2,280 for about $278/year saved — roughly 8.2 years to break even. Whether that is worth it depends on how long you plan to stay.
Getting it done in Hot Springs County
Real bids depend on how easy the attic is to reach and whether old insulation needs removing first, so treat $3,480 as a starting estimate for a Hot Springs County job, not a quote. Expect at least a $600 minimum charge from most contractors.
Hot Springs County's numbers, sourced
The methodology guide lists exactly which DOE and NOAA sources feed Hot Springs County's numbers, and where the cost assumptions come from. See the DIY vs. contractor guide for whether a job this size is realistic to do yourself.