Insulation is what helps keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. When it’s in good condition, it does the job perfectly and with most insulation lasting more than 100 years, it’s rare for homeowners to ever have to worry about replacing it.
Unfortunately, there are some instances that can cause your home’s insulation to start to fail. The sooner you can identify the signs of failing insulation, the easier it will be for you to protect your home.
Here are a few tell-tale signs that it’s time to replace your old insulation with superior insulation now.
1. Your Energy Bills Are Through the Roof
Though the primary purpose of insulation is to keep your house comfortable, it also helps you keep your energy bills under control. When the insulation is in good condition, it makes it easier for your heating and cooling system to keep up with your thermostat’s settings.
When the insulation isn’t working properly, the climate-controlled air inside your house can leech out through the walls and attic. This means your HVAC system has to turn on more often to keep your home comfortable.
The more it turns on, the more energy your system uses and the higher your utility bills will be. Take a look at your home’s utility bills over the last few months and see if they’re steadily increasing for no reason. If they are, you may want to get your insulation inspected.
Replacing damaged materials with superior insulation will help keep your bills lower no matter what the weather is like outside.
2. Temperatures Change Inside
Insulation helps keep the temperatures inside your home fairly stable, no matter what the temperatures are like outside. If you find that some parts of your home are overly hot or cold even when your HVAC system is on, your insulation may be failing.
The temperatures outside your home can cause any spot in your walls without adequate insulation to change in temperature. If those spots are large enough, they can cause the air inside to stay hotter or colder than it should.
However, it won’t impact the spaces where the insulation is in good condition. Walk around your house and see if some rooms feel warmer or colder than they should. If so, schedule an insulation inspection.
If it needs replacing, the sooner you can do it, the better. However, your contractor may be able to install additional insulation to help extend the life of the materials already in your walls.
3. There Are Noises in the Walls
Pay attention to the noises you hear inside your home. Sounds like water in the pipes and the occasional clank of metal shifting are normal. Sounds like scratching or scampering inside the walls aren’t normal and indicate you need to hire an exterminator immediately.
Those noises are a surefire sign that you have rodents and pests in the walls.
Rodents love to use the insulation to create nests and burrows. When they do, they damage the materials and make them less effective. You’ll want to replace the damaged areas after you remove the pests to keep your home in good condition.
4. The Attic Is Overly Stuffy
In many cases, the more insulation you have in your home, the better, but can you put too much insulation in your attic? Yes.
Believe it or not, your attic needs to be able to breathe. Hot air from inside your home rises and collects in the attic. When there’s too much insulation, the hot air can’t escape and will end up causing the rest of your home to heat up, too.
Over time, that excess insulation can allow moisture to build up in your attic space. This increases your risk of mold or mildew growth which can damage and even ruin your insulation completely.
If your attic feels overly stuffy, hot, or damp, schedule an inspection as soon as you can. The sooner you do, the easier it will be to replace the insulation with the right levels.
5. A Storm Damaged Your Roof
Even minor storms can lead to serious roof damage and insulation problems. After a major storm or anytime you see missing shingles, you’ll want to get your roof inspected.
A storm damage roof repair expert will be able to assess both your roofing materials and the insulation in your attic for damage. If the insulation got saturated during the storm, started molding, or got torn up during the storm, you may need to replace it.
They’ll be able to determine if you can repair the existing insulation or if you’re in need of a full replacement. If your roofing contractor recommends a full replacement, make it a priority.
Leaving damaged insulation in place is the easiest way to compromise the safety of the rest of your home.
6. You Can Hear Street Noise
Think about how loud your home gets when people drive down the street or when kids are playing in the neighbor’s yard. When your insulation is in good condition, the noise should be minimal. In fact, you probably won’t notice it unless you’re paying attention.
However, if your insulation is starting to break down, those noises will start to seep into your home. The more damaged the insulation is, the louder those noises will become.
If you start to hear more noise contamination inside, it’s likely time to replace your home’s insulation.
Superior Insulation Can Make a Difference
Leaving damaged insulation in place is the easiest way to make your home less energy-efficient and less comfortable year-round. If you think your insulation needs replacing, don’t put it off.
Speak with your contractor about installing superior insulation throughout your home. Over time, you’ll see a dramatic improvement in your utility bills and may even increase your home’s value.
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