If your heating and cooling costs have been going up over the past few years, this might be a sign that your home is in need of some new insulation. If you are going to attempt to install what is needed yourself instead of hiring an insulation company, you will want to take some precautions and have a gameplan before you begin in order get through the job safely. Here are 3 safety tips for your next insulation project you might not have thought of.

Use "IC" Rated Materials Near Lighting

If you are installing new insulation along the ceiling of any room in your home, pay attention to the lighting and wiring that you have in the room. If the room that is being renovated has a recessed light fixture, you will want to make sure that any insulation you install is insulation contact rated, commonly abbreviated as "IC". This means that the insulation is designed to come into contact with sources of heat like your lighting without causing a fire hazard. Installing insulation that is not IC rated near a light fixture is asking for trouble.

 Safety Clothing is Important

You might not be using any big power tools during this job, but it's still important to make sure you are wearing the right safety equipment to protect yourself during the project. You should use goggles and not just safety glasses to ensure that all of the dust is kept out of your eyes. You'll also want to wear gloves and a dust mask. For greater protection, a pair of overalls can help keep most of your body free of the dust and other airborne-irritants that you can encounter during an insulation job. 

Ventilation Will Keep Irritation at a Minimum

If you are installing insulation in an area that you know will be especially dusty or you are working with materials such as fiberglass, you will want to make sure the area is well ventilated. This can be difficult though if you are working somewhere like your attic where there might not be any windows. You can purchase a ventilation or filtration system at your local home improvement store that can help filter the air while you work and protect your body and lungs.

If you've never done your own insulation project before, it might be best to hire professional help. But if you are going to try and do it on your own, make sure you take the right safety precautions to protect yourself. Make sure any insulation getting installed near lighting is fire-retardant, invest in some good safety gear like goggles or a pair of overalls and always make sure the area is well-ventilated.