Some of the most challenging issues you face as a homeowner can be improved with better insulation. If you’re dealing with pesky problems (like pest infestation and noise intrusion), a cost-effective solution can be new insulation.
When you add insulation to your home, you’ll exchange high energy bills for consistent savings, and cold indoor temperatures for warm and cozy. Read on to discover how you can recognize it’s time to replace your insulation.
How to Know It’s Time to Replace Your Home’s Insulation
When your insulation wears out, problems arise. From indoor drafts to health risks like allergens and mold, old insulation not only doesn’t do its job, but also causes additional trouble for you and your home.
1. Your heating and air conditioning are working overtime
Is your home drafty? Do you find that your heater runs endlessly each winter and your air conditioner is on constantly each summer? If you have to use your heater and air conditioner more than you did a few years ago, it’s a sign that you may simply need new insulation in your home.
2. You have household pests
Insects and rodents can feed off and nest in worn-out insulation, particularly if it is fiberglass (which is easy for them to tear apart and eat). Pests make their way into poorly sealed homes and create holes in your insulation.
3. Your utility bills have increased for an unknown reason
Insulation loses its effectiveness over time, and without replacement, it may become useless. If you’ve had an extreme rise in your utility bills, it may be due to old insulation. This situation is easily remedied when you get new insulation.
4. Your home has suffered moisture intrusion
Water damage comes in many forms and produces wet flooring, brown or dark spots on your ceiling or walls, and the unpleasant smell of unhealthy mold. Water damage ruins your insulation and causes it to need replacement promptly.
Additionally, ineffective insulation can also cause water damage! If a water pipe isn’t insulated well, freezing winter weather can force it to burst and make a sizable problem in your home. This type of trouble is avoidable if you simply make sure your home is insulated properly.
5. Your allergy symptoms are getting worse
Do you have persistent allergy symptoms that seem to exacerbate when you are at home for long periods of time? This may be due to the fact that your insulation has been infiltrated with water and is now moldy. Or, your insulation may be collecting so much dust that it’s impacting your health.
When your home’s air quality decreases so drastically that it shows up as symptoms in your body, you need to get to the bottom of the situation quickly. Your problem may be swiftly solved with new insulation. This will improve your home’s air quality and keep allergens at bay so you can enjoy being at home.
6. Your home has inconsistent temperatures throughout it
It’s a frustrating situation to live in a home where you’re cold in one room and warm in another. Poor insulation creates a fluctuation in temperatures from one room to the next. It’s a result of heat being retained in rooms where your insulation is in good shape, and heat escaping in rooms where you need new insulation.
7. Your home’s walls and ceilings are cold to the touch
This is an easy way to spot the need for new insulation. Simply touch your walls and ceilings, and if they are cold, you need new insulation.
8. You have ice dams on your roof
The warmth from your heater and fireplace should stay inside—not leak to the outside. This is particularly important during our Minnesota snow-filled winter days. If your home’s heat escapes through your attic and melts the snow on your roof, the snow will melt and head for your gutters. It then freezes again and blocks your gutters, and forms icicles. If you spot icicles frequently, or your gutters get clogged when they should be draining the melting snow, your home needs new insulation.
9. Unwanted noise invades your home daily
If you are inside your home and you hear your neighbors outside talking, or barking dogs disrupt your sleep, or you live near a busy street or highway and the constant sounds from the traffic invade your home, it’s a clear sign that you need new insulation.
Did you know that insulation helps keep noise from the outside from penetrating your tranquil space indoors? Insulating your home will also keep your family’s indoor activities private, as they should be.
10. Your insulation has shifted and is falling
When insulation needs to be replaced, it often appears to be wet, thinning, and broken down. It may fall from its ideal location, hindering its ability to accomplish its primary function.
One of the Biggest Benefits of New Insulation
While insulation improves your home’s comfort, one of the most important things about new insulation is the savings you’ll enjoy.
New insulation will save you money on utilities
When you replace your home’s insulation, your home’s heating and cooling are more efficient, saving you on your electric bills throughout the year.
Get New Insulation and Enjoy Indoor Comfort and Energy Efficiency
At Beissel Window and Siding, we look at the root cause of any issues you are facing with your home, and recommend the best long-term solution. If you simply need new insulation, that’s what we provide.
We’ve received the Angi’s List Super Service Award every year since 2003 for our excellent service.
Learn more about our insulation services.
