6 Signs That Your Home’s Insulation Needs Replacing

For most homeowners, insulation isn’t something that you think about very often. As a result, it is easy to assume that your home is well insulated — unless you know how to spot the signs of wear and tear. 

Unfortunately, not knowing these signs can be costly in the short and long run. So, it’s worth your while to learn the signs that your home insulation needs replacing. Keep reading to learn 6 that every homeowner should know, and why it’s so important to replace your home’s old or damaged insulation.

Why is it Important to Replace Your Home’s Insulation?

Taking your home insulation for granted can have costly consequences. Besides having a chilly, drafty home, your energy bills will also increase as your heating and air conditioning work overtime to make up for the conditioned air that’s leaking out through your poorly insulated walls.

Poor insulation can also put your health at risk by potentially exposing you to mold, pathogens, and allergens. Plus, water can penetrate weak insulation and make your home vulnerable to dry rot, metal corrosion, and other damage. This is even more common in older homes.

Troubleshooting Your Home’s Insulation

You can avoid the ill effects of poor insulation by learning how to spot key indicators that your insulation needs to be replaced. Here are 6 you should be aware of, regardless of the type of insulation you have within the walls of your home.

1, Persistent Allergy Symptoms

If you or members of your household experience chronic allergy symptoms, the culprit could be mold forming around your insulation. Mold spores can become airborne and perpetually contaminate the air in your home. 

Sometimes, mold can be difficult to detect in homes with attics, basements, and attached garages. It’s also difficult to link your allergy symptoms to bad insulation unless you recently moved into a new home and your allergy symptoms began around the same time. But, hiring insulation professionals to use spray foam to air seal your home will help prevent any potential allergens from forming and releasing in the air.

2. An Inescapable Stench

One of the most telling signs of poor insulation is the terrible, musty smell in certain areas of your home. Regardless of how thoroughly you clean the space, that moldy scent remains. It’s a good indication of the presence of rodents, mold, or dry rot. 

Most of the time, the root cause of the stench is your home’s wet insulation. Fiberglass is a perfect example of a moisture-absorbing material that can become a host for mold. A leaky roof or ground moisture from a snowstorm can saturate this kind of insulation to form mold, resulting in stinky living quarters and hazardous breathing conditions. 

3. An Abrupt Rise in Utility Bills

Your utility bills can be accurate indicators that your insulation needs replacing, especially if they are much higher than in previous years. When poor insulation allows the conditioned air to escape your home, your HVAC has to work much harder to control the temperature range in your home. Spray foam insulation can solve this problem by sealing in conditioned air.

4. Water Damage

You can usually spot a room with leaks by checking for wet flooring and dark spots on the ceiling panels. When you find leaks, you will most likely find mold. Poor insulation is a common cause of water leaks in the home. So, replacing your home’s insulation with waterproof foam is the best way to combat this type of damage.

Also, good insulation can prevent other types of water damage as well. For example, frigid temperatures in the winter can cause poorly insulated water pipes to burst, resulting in possible significant damage to your home and your wallet.

5. Uneven Temperatures Throughout Your Home

If some of the rooms in your home are drafty and others are warm, this is a sign of inadequate insulation. This condition causes your HVAC to use more power to regulate the temperature, resulting in higher utility bills. Instead of focusing on one area, it is best to replace the insulation in the entire house to ward off future problems. 

6. Rodents and Other Household Vermin

Rats and insects can easily tear through old insulation and make a thoroughfare into your home. So, if you see a proliferation of rodents and other pests, it’s a safe bet they chewed through old insulation, especially the fiberglass variety.

 Also, old insulation can be a food source for rodents and insects. This fact may encourage infestations. On the other hand, installing foam insulation blocks any entryways for these vermin, and the foam is inedible for animals and insects. 

Choosing the Right Company to Install Your New Insulation

Since homes come in various styles and layouts, you want to choose an insulation company with many spray foam insulation options. Look for a company that offers open-end, closed-end, and hybrid spray installations. Plus, you should make sure the certified installation professionals have a solid construction background, ensuring they know exactly how to handle your type of home. 

When you deal with an established company like Superior Insulation, you’ll find they use the latest technology and tools to analyze and pinpoint poor performance issues in your home. Regardless of the company you choose, they should offer:

  • Free in-home evaluation, consultation, and estimate
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Certified technicians

Key Takeaways About Replacing Your Home’s Insulation

Overlooking the signs of low-performing home insulation can cost you money, full use of your home, and good health. The best way to truly determine whether you have shoddy home insulation is to contact an installation professional. However, if you decide to do some preliminary checks, wear protective clothing to avoid exposure to mold and allergens.

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