Insulation is one of those things that homeowners tend to forget about shortly after moving into a new home. “Out of sight, out of mind,” as the old adage goes. Yet inside your attic and within your walls, your insulation could be settling or accumulating mold, becoming less and less effective at keeping your home comfortable. How can you know it’s time to replace your insulation when you can’t always see it?
Insulation Loses Effectiveness Over Time
The first thing to understand about insulation is that it can settle and deteriorate over time — even in a high performing home. This makes it less effective at regulating indoor temperatures and boosting home energy efficiency. In addition to natural settling, a number of issues such as water damage, mold, smoke, and pest infestation can undermine its effectiveness. Because of this, it’s important to check your insulation and to replace it as needed for continual home comfort and efficiency.
Signs That It’s Time for New Insulation
You don’t necessarily need to go into your attic or behind your walls to find out if your insulation is damaged; you can usually feel the effects of damaged insulation. Here are a few telltale signs that it’s time for new insulation:
Uneven temperatures from room to room
Unusually warm second story during the summer
Drafts
Heating or AC system that constantly runs
Abnormally high energy bills
Older home built in the 1970s or earlier
Assess Your Home with an Energy Audit
When in doubt, one of the easiest ways to assess current insulation levels is to schedule a home energy audit. During an energy audit, a home performance expert will take a comprehensive look at your home using a variety of state-of-the-art tools. You’ll find out exactly where your home needs insulation or re-insulation. The principal areas of focus for new insulation are usually the attic, basement or crawlspace, and exterior walls.
Remove & Replace Insulation as Needed
Before installing new insulation, it’s important to have a professional completely remove any old and damaged insulation. A professional will remove old insulation safely and efficiently using special equipment. Once your home is ready for re-insulation, your insulation contractor can assess your insulation needs and determine which materials will be most effective in your home.
As insulation experts here in the Frankfort and Illinois areas, we are ready to help you through the entire process of re-insulating your home, from the initial home energy audit to removal, to new insulation installation. We work with a variety of high-performance materials, including cellulose and spray foam, to deliver maximum energy efficiency and home comfort to our customers.