Signs You Need to Update Your Home Insulation

Insulation is one of the best home investments that can help reduce your energy use. However, knowing when the right time is to update your home insulation can be a little tricky. Dirt, water, and dust can build up over time and contribute to the decline of your insulation’s effectiveness. To keep your energy efficiency high and maintain comfortable temperatures throughout your home, it’s best to check on your insulation every 15 years. We’ll walk you through some of the most common signs that indicate you need to update your home insulation.

1. Indoor temperatures are fluctuating

If you walk from one room of your home to another and the temperatures are vastly different, this can indicate that your insulation is poor. Depending on what temperature your thermostat is set at, each room of your home should be around this same temperature at all times. There shouldn’t be a major temperature fluctuation just by going in and out your door once or twice. If this is the case, then it’s best to have a look at your insulation and air sealing as some of your cold or hot air can be escaping your home.

2. There’s been a known problem of pests

If you’ve ever had a known issue with pests in your home, it’s likely that there could be damage done to your insulation from these critters. They are notorious for causing damage to home insulation as they can get into your attic or other places to seek shelter from the snow or other weather instances. Some of the most common pests that can damage your home’s insulation include:

• Mice
• Squirrels
• Raccoons
• Possums
• Bats

These pests can get into your insulation and make their home there for the colder winter months and in the process destroy your insulation. So, if you’ve had a known pest problem in the past, this could be an indication that your insulation should be looked at.

3. There are noticeable drafty areas

Drafty areas around windows or doors can be a sign of improper sealing or lack of. If you find that you feel a cold breeze coming through your window when you walk by, this is a good indication that your insulation should be checked. All areas of your home that lead outside should be properly sealed and insulated to ensure that no additional drafts are felt from the inside of your home. If you notice that your floors are considerably colder in the winter months, this can also suggest that you have poor insulation, especially around your rim joists.

4. Your furnace or air conditioner is always running

Does it seem like no matter what you set your thermostat to that your furnace or air conditioner is always running? This can indicate that there is poor insulation in your home and the cool air in the summer or warm air in the winter is not staying inside of your house. Also, having your heating and cooling system constantly running leads to very poor energy efficiency leading to higher energy bills and uncomfortable temperatures in your home.

Ready for a home energy audit?

If you think that your home’s insulation might need an update, a home energy audit can help you figure this out. A home energy audit will thoroughly evaluate all major components of your home including insulation to find any areas that could use improvement. From there, solutions can be implemented, and you will be on the road to more even temperatures and a more comfortable home to live in for you and your family. If you are ready to schedule a home energy audit today, contact us at Ecotelligent Homes and we will be happy to get that set up for you.