Athens County, Ohio · county seat Athens
Insulation in Athens County
Attic insulation, crawl space cleanout and vapor barriers, blown in walls, rim joists and old insulation removal across Athens County, including Athens, Nelsonville and The Plains. We come out, measure, and give you one written price for the whole job.
Athens County homes, by the numbers
The typical home in Athens County was built in 1977. Ohio's median is 1970. About one home in three (33.2%) went up before 1960. Those are the houses where we most often find empty walls and thin, settled attic insulation.
When was your house built? The Athens County Auditor's website (use its property search) [2] lists the year built for most homes. Look up your address and tell us when you call; the age of the house tells us a lot about what is in the walls and attic.
How Athens County heats
| Electricity | 47.5% | |
|---|---|---|
| Utility gas | 38.1% | |
| Propane (bottled or tank gas) | 8.4% | |
| Wood | 3.4% | |
| Fuel oil or kerosene | 1.2% | |
| Other fuel | 0.7% | |
| No fuel used | 0.6% |
The most common heating fuel in Athens County is electricity (47.5%), well above Ohio's 26%. With electric heat, every bit of heat that leaks through the attic shows up on the electric bill. [1] [3]
Climate zone and the attic target
Under Ohio's residential code, Athens County is in climate zone 5A [4]. The 2021 and 2024 model energy codes moved it to zone 4A [5], but Ohio has not adopted them. Either way, the attic advice is the same: ENERGY STAR recommends R-60 in an uninsulated attic and adding R-49 where there are already 3 to 4 inches, for zones 4 and 5 alike [6]. What that means for your attic.
Athens County questions
How old are the homes in Athens County, Ohio?
The median home in Athens County was built in 1977, and 33.2% were built before 1960, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Statewide, 37.7% of Ohio homes were built before 1960.
How do homes in Athens County heat?
38.1% of occupied homes heat with utility gas, 47.5% with electricity, 8.4% with propane, 1.2% with fuel oil or kerosene and 3.4% with wood (ACS 2020-2024, table B25040).
Does House Tite insulate homes in Athens County?
Yes. Athens County is one of the twelve Central and Southeast Ohio counties we work in. Home base is Nelsonville, in Athens County.
Utilities and energy programs
| Electric co-op | Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative [7] Programs: Home Energy Audit [8] |
|---|---|
| Electric co-op | Washington Electric Cooperative (part of the county) [9] |
| Natural gas | Columbia Gas of Ohio [10] |
Columbia Gas of Ohio customers: WarmChoice offers free home energy inspections and energy-saving improvements, including insulation, air sealing, and natural gas appliance upgrades
to households with incomes up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines [11].
From each utility's own website. Utilities usually serve only part of a county, and programs change; check the linked page before you count on one, and ask your electric and gas company what they offer right now.
Free weatherization if you qualify
Ohio's Home Weatherization Assistance Program, run since April 2026 by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, works through a local agency in each county. In Athens County that is Hocking-Athens-Perry County Community Action, (740) 767 4500 [13]. It serves households with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines [12]. If you qualify, apply there first; it costs you nothing.
What we do in Athens County
- Attic insulation
- Crawl spaces
- Insulation removal
- Blown in walls
- Rim joists
- Pole barns and shops
- New construction
- Spray foam
Towns in Athens County
Incorporated towns and census places in Athens County, largest first [14]. Athens is the county seat.
- Athens
- Nelsonville
- The Plains
- Glouster
- Albany
- Coolville
- Chauncey
- Stewart
- Trimble
- Buchtel
- Jacksonville
- Amesville
An Athens County review
Dan Inman, Athens
An Athens County job
An 1800s farmhouse, dense packed from the outside
Get a price
Tell us about the job
A few details and a photo or two is all it takes. We call you back to set up a time to come out, measure, and give you one written price for the whole job.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25035 (median year built), B25034 (year built), B25040 (house heating fuel), B25003 (tenure), B01003 (population).
- Athens County Auditor. County Auditor website.
- U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for Ohio, same tables.
- Ohio Board of Building Standards. Residential Code of Ohio, Chapter 11 Energy Efficiency (rule 4101:8-11-01, effective July 1, 2019), Tables 1101.7 and 1102.1.2.
- International Code Council. 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, Table R301.1, climate zones by county.
- ENERGY STAR. Recommended Home Insulation R-Values.
- Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative. Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative: service area.
- Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative. Home Energy Audit.
- Washington Electric Cooperative. Washington Electric Cooperative: service area.
- Columbia Gas of Ohio. Columbia Gas of Ohio: service area.
- Columbia Gas of Ohio. Ohio Energy Assistance Programs fact sheet, 2026-2027 (WarmChoice).
- Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP).
- Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Energy and community assistance providers map.
- U.S. Census Bureau. 2020 Census place-by-county relationship file for Ohio.