Every home requires proper insulation to keep it warm enough in winter and cool enough during hotter seasons to be comfortable. Insulation is the barrier that keeps warm air inside the home (winter months) and prevents hot air from entering the house (summer months). Simply put, it’s what’s keeping your home comfortable, no matter what the season and weather is like.
It’s unlikely that you actively think about your insulation – not many people do. With that being said, it’s vital to ensure that your home’s insulation is still in good condition as it can drive your home to be uncomfortable, and skyrocket energy bills. How does the average homeowner know that it’s time to get new insulation?
Signs of Insulation Wear
Drafts
One of the telltale signs that you need to replace your home insulation is when you start experiencing drafts where none were before. Drafts are sudden sweeps of cold air that blow across a specific space. You have to ensure that the draft is not coming from windows or doors, though. If you see no issue with those, you likely need to check for poorly insulated areas of your home.
Sporadic Changes in Temperature
If you’re suddenly noticing that the temperature indoors is fluctuating for no reason, it’s a clear sign that there’s a problem with the insulation. This is especially the case if your home thermostat is set at a consistent temperature. You may have to add more insulation in areas of your home or have a complete insulation replacement.
High Energy Bills
During seasons where the temperature gets extremely hot or freezing, the home’s insulation plays a huge role. It allows the heating and air conditioning system to work efficiently and not overexert itself to keep the home comfortable.
When your bills suddenly go up, and you have to use the A/C more, or the heating system has to work overtime, that’s likely because the insulation is no longer doing its job correctly. This happens because the cooling unit needs to compensate for the loss of cooler air inside as heat seeps through the outside insulation.
The same thing happens during the colder months when the heating system finds it hard to warm the house to the right temperature as the warm air from the inside keeps escaping through the inefficient insulation.
Animal or Pest Infestation
Just as humans need to escape frigid temperatures during winter, so do animals and pests. They look for shelter that’s warmer so they’ll survive. Unfortunately for you, that shelter could be your insulation. Of course, this can be damaging to your insulation.
If you wonder how rats and other pests find their way into your home, they likely got through your insulation. If you don’t address this problem immediately, you can be dealing with a full-blown infestation on top of an insulation replacement. The only way to ensure this doesn’t happen is by replacing your worn-out insulation with Spray Polyurethane Foam insulation (spray foam insulation), as it’s known as a superior material that’s robust and efficient.
Conclusion
Insulation is one of those elements of your home that you don’t see but play a huge role in making your home comfortable, especially during extremely hot or cold months. However, if the insulation is not efficient anymore, you’ll notice the signs discussed above. If you see one or more of these or aren’t sure if your home needs new insulation, it’s your cue to call your trusted insulation expert to get your system checked and replaced if needed.
American Foam Experts is a trusted insulation company in Walnut Creek, CA, that offers expert services to residential and commercial clients. Contact us today to get a quote!