Somervell County, TX Insulation Payback
Somervell County, TX: what topping up your attic actually costs
Somervell County, Texas is zone 3 under DOE's climate map (Hot-Humid), which means summers that stay hot and humid while winters barely register on the energy bill. An uninsulated attic there should be built up to R-49. Going from R-2 to the recommended R-49 costs roughly $2,820 installed for a typical attic (about 1,000 sq ft), and pays for itself in about 2.6 years at an estimated $1,084/year saved. That's about as fast as attic paybacks get.
Heating vs. cooling in Somervell County
The estimated savings split roughly $683/year heating, $401/year cooling. Out of every 100 US counties tracked here, Somervell County's savings potential beats roughly 23 of them. Within zone 3 specifically, it ranks 279th of 690 counties by estimated savings. Texas averages $1,035/year across the counties tracked here; Somervell County comes in 5% higher.
The climate data behind this
NOAA's RAINBOW, TX US station, 4.8 miles from Somervell County, supplies the 2,575 HDD and 2,513 CDD this estimate runs on. That combined heating-and-cooling load ranks Somervell County 2267th nationally by total degree days — the 28th percentile. Somervell County falls in DOE's moisture regime A (humid), a detail that affects vapor-barrier recommendations more than the R-value target itself.
If the attic isn't bare
Already have a few inches up there? Topping R-11 up to R-38 runs about $1,620 for about $146/year saved — roughly 11.1 years to break even. This one is a genuine toss-up, not a clear yes.
Getting it done in Somervell County
Real bids depend on how easy the attic is to reach and whether old insulation needs removing first, so treat $2,820 as a starting estimate for a Somervell County job, not a quote. Expect at least a $600 minimum charge from most contractors.
Nothing here is a guess
Every figure on this page traces to DOE/IECC climate zones and NOAA degree-day normals, documented in the methodology guide. The guide to what R-value actually means explains why R-49 is the target here specifically.