Insulation is a proven way to keep your home's indoor temperatures consistent and comfortable year-round. That said, it can become worn or damaged over time and become less effective at its job of protecting your home against unwanted heat gains or losses. When this happens, you may have to re-insulate your house.
The good news is that insulation failure does not usually happen unannounced. In most cases, you can see the signs that your residential insulation is failing and needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
With that said, here are some common telltale signs it's time to re-insulate your house.
Inconsistent indoor temperatures
When your residential insulation is intact, it minimizes heat transfer through the building envelope. As it deteriorates over time, it gradually loses its ability to protect the building against unwanted heat gains and losses. When this happens, you're bound to experience cold or hot spots in your home, depending on the type of season it is.
If certain rooms or sections of your home feel hotter or colder than others, check if there is an issue with your home's heating and cooling system. Blocked air vents, a faulty thermostat, improper zoning and many other equipment-related issues can cause the problem.
If the issue isn't with your heating and cooling equipment, your insulation might be failing and need to be replaced.
Spiking domestic energy bills
If your home's energy bills tend to increase during the heating and cooling seasons despite the fact that your HVAC equipment is maintained properly, it might be time to check the condition of your insulation.
Damaged or deteriorated insulation puts a strain on your HVAC equipment, causing it to use more energy than normal to make your home comfortable enough. Increased energy usage can translate to huge domestic energy bills during the heating and cooling seasons.
Wet insulation
Insulation can become wet due to a leaky roof, water pipe leaks and many other variables. Depending on the type of product, wet insulation will not only allow hot or cold air to escape from your house but can also increase the risk of a mould problem.
If your residential insulation is wet and damaged, make sure it's removed and replaced immediately. Before installing new insulation, the underlying cause of the water leaks must be identified and remedied to avoid a recurrence of the problem.
Whether your residential insulation is worn out or damaged in a recent storm event, a local insulation contractor can check and replace it if necessary.
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