Your attic's insulation works to keep the temperature within you home at a comfortable level, preventing heat from escaping in the winter and from seeping in during the summer. However, just like all other parts of your home, your attic insulation can fall apart and degrade over time due to wear and damage. Understanding some of the warning signs associated with worn out and improperly functioning insulation can help you determine when you should contact a contractor about replacing your attic insulation.
Increased Energy Bills
One of the first signs that your insulation is no longer properly insulating your home is if you notice that your energy bills have increased notably over the past few months, without any sort of change in the temperature setting of your thermostat or your other major appliance usage. This can point to more heat transfer through your roof, which means that your central heating or cooling system, depending on the season, has to operate longer to provide the same level of climate control to your home. Having your attic insulation replaced can thus be seen as a sound investment, as it will cut down on your energy bills each month.
Pest Presence
If you've had a pest problem in your attic before, or have seen signs of rats, mice, or other pests within your home (like cockroaches and termites), it's probably a good idea to get a contractor in to inspect the insulation in your attic. Many pests will either use the insulation in your attic as a material for their nests and bedding, or will otherwise use it as a food source, depending on what it is made out of. This can cause a great deal of damage and disruption to your insulation, and can reduce its effectiveness.
Water Damage
Finally, you should also keep an eye out for water damage within your home, particularly coming from roofing leaks. Discoloration, the smell of mold, peeling paint and wallpaper and a variety of other signs can all point to a roofing leak. Leaks will allow moisture to get into your insulation, which can cause it to bunch up and fall apart, limiting its effectiveness. If this is the case, not only will you have to have your roofing materials checked out and repaired to stop the source of the leak, but you will also have to have your attic insulation replaced to maintain the energy efficiency of your home.
Share8 April 2018
Hi there, my name is Samuel Arnell. When I bought my home, the first thing I noticed was how small the bathroom area looked. After living in that space for several months, it became totally obvious that the bathroom was cramped and awkward to navigate. I enlisted the help of a general contractor to upgrade that bathroom space. I elected to have a jetted tub, separate shower and double sinks placed in the expanded bathroom space. Although I lost a closet in the process, it was completely worth it to have large, luxurious bathroom. I would like to talk about the building process from start to finish on this site. Please visit often to learn more.
