So many homeowners underestimate the need for proper insulation. In a home without proper insulation, warm air leaks out in the winter and cool air leaks out in the summer. In both cases, the HVAC system is working hard to maintain the temperature, but it’s fighting a losing battle and driving the utility bills higher. Unfortunately, insulation isn’t a “set it and forget it” solution either. Just because your home was properly insulated ten, five, or even one year ago, doesn’t mean that insulation is sufficient now. This is why it’s important to regularly inspect your insulation. It’s impossible to give an exact expiration date on insulation because there are so many variables to consider such as climate and recent weather events, among many other things that hugely impact the life expectancy of your insulation. However, we can give you some common signs to watch for to know when your insulation may be nearing the end of its life expectancy.
1. Insulation Wear and Tear
This is one that can sometimes be observed without even looking at the insulation itself. Do you feel some sort of draft where there didn’t use to be one? If you have this problem, it might be time to look closer at the insulation surrounding the area where you first noticed the problem. It may simply be a case that your insulation is getting old and needs to be replaced.
2. Ventilation Failure
Is your attic or basement suddenly getting an increased buildup of mold and mildew thanks to excess moisture? This could be caused by multiple things. Maybe your ventilation system isn’t working as efficiently. Perhaps your ventilation fan (if you have one) isn’t running properly. There could be many reasons for this. Perhaps it was damaged or you suffered a loss of power and have no backup power source for your ventilation system. Investing in a high quality solar attic fan is highly recommended as being powered by a renewable energy source like the sun ensures you will never lose power during the daytime. A high-quality fan will even keep running through most extreme weather events, although perhaps at a slightly reduced efficiency level if the sunlight is being blocked by clouds. Having a reliable ventilation system keeps your insulation much safer and less prone to moisture buildup.
3. Unexpected Weather Damage
If you are suffering from a buildup of moisture, perhaps your home took unexpected water damage causing it to need to be replaced. This can unfortunately happen even in very new insulation, particularly in extreme weather events that may be uncommon in your area. If you’ve had a freak snowstorm or rain storm recently that was out of the ordinary, it’s a good idea to check your insulation, particularly in areas of your home such as the attic, basement, and garage for water damage. Houses are built differently in different parts of the country. A home built in the southern US may not be built to withstand the same amount of snow as a home from the northern US. Just like a home further north is less likely to be built to withstand the same intense heat homes further south must deal with. Homes not in flood zones are often built differently than those that are.
These are some of the most common issues homeowners may encounter with their insulation. However, they are by far not the only issues to look out for. Going forward in 2023, it’s important to remember that good insulation is a vital part of keeping your home safe and healthy. But of course, the best way to protect your insulation is though proper ventilation. For more information on how ventilation affects the health and safety of your home, check out this in-depth analysis of the ventilation basics for the experts here at SolarRoyal.
