Signs Your Home Needs More Insulation
A common misunderstanding about construction codes is that they are best practice. In reality, construction codes are the minimum expectation needed to pass inspection. For this reason, the insulation in many homes could be improved up. If you notice any of the below scenarios in your home, it’s time to take a closer look at your insulation. Doing so will increase your overall comfort and improve your energy efficiency.
Feeling Chilly or Too Hot?
Rooms that feel extra frosty in the winter or too warm in the summer are often evidence of inadequate levels of insulation. The rooms that are more likely to experience extreme temperature swings seasonally are often located above the garage or right below the attic. Lack of insulation proves problematic because outside air can filter in without a proper barrier to regulate the home’s interior temperature.
Evidence of Pests and Bugs
Finding mice and bugs in your home is an unpleasant experience to say the least. These varmints are able to crawl through holes or loose insulation and infiltrate your home. Take back your space by working with a reputable professional to add more insulation and secure any holes. This will allow for proper air flow throughout your home.
Here’s How a Home Performance Test Can Determine Where Your Home is Losing Energy:
Finding Water in Your Attic
Feeble insulation not only lets air to flow in and out, but it also allows for water to seep into your home. If you’re experiencing water in your attic, it’s time to get your insulation checked. Leaking water from attic frost formation thawing can introduce mold issues, causing bigger problems down the road. Increased insulation and proper ventilation working in tandem can assist in the warding off of attic frost formation. Humidity is a huge factor whether it be in winter or summer months. Keeping an eye on your attic’s conditions during higher humidity times will help prevent moisture from wreaking havoc on your framing. Be sure to always run a fan while cooking to collect the steam before it hits your walls.
Ice Dams on Your Roof
Ice dams derive from heat rising from a poorly insulated attic which causes snow to melt on the lower portions of your roof. This causes the water to drop down and refreeze once it gets closer to your gutters, leaving oversized icicles. Not only is this a safety hazard for anyone walking below it, but it will plunder your roof and gutters. Once this water defrosts, it will seep into your home’s framing, making it soft and in need of replacing. While there are temporary fixes like chipping away the ice or adding heat tape, the only solution is to fix the insulation and ventilation issue.
Frozen Pipes
The pipes that are most likely to freeze within your home are those that are unprotected in spaces with minimal heat and those installed in exterior walls. Signs pipes have previously frozen include mold, moisture build-up, and water damage. Often the culprit is insulation that have been installed wrong or too low of insulation levels. Work with a professional ASAP to remedy the situation or be prepared to fork out thousands of dollars to address water damage in your home.
