Insulation plays a crucial role in your home’s comfort, health, and energy efficiency. However, over time, insulation materials become less effective, leading to a myriad of problems.
Are you wondering if it’s time to replace the insulation in your Chicagoland home? The building science experts at ARC Insulation can help! Here are the 7 tell-tale signs of poor-performing insulation and how you can fix them with our comprehensive insulation services.
1. Increased Energy Bills
Rising heating and cooling costs without a coinciding increase in your rates or usage is one of the biggest red flags that point to home inefficiencies. Without sufficient home insulation, it’s likely that your HVAC system is having to work overtime to keep up with the fluctuating temperatures. The team at ARC Insulation can help find out exactly where your home needs improvements with a home energy assessment.
2. Ice Dams
Without proper attic insulation, heat will escape from your roof. During the winter, this will melt the snow and ice on your home, which will then refreeze along your gutters and create blockages known as ice dams. Ice dams can cause severe damage to your gutters, roof, and even your home’s structure.
3. Indoor Drafts & Temperature Swings
If you notice you’re cold in one room, but warm in another, that could be a sign of poor insulation. A well-insulated home will have stable temperatures and be able to hold heat in your home in the winter (or cool, conditioned air in the summer). Insulation upgrades—especially when combined with air sealing—can solve this issue.
4. Water Damage
Has your home recently suffered from a flood or extensive leaks? This could mean that you need insulation removal and replacement. Exposure to moisture can not only lead to your home insulation losing its effectiveness, but it can promote mold growth as well, which is known to cause poor indoor air quality.
5. Recent Renovations
Insulation is often overlooked by contractors when making renovations to a home. If you’ve upgraded your home this year and insulation wasn’t included, you could be losing energy. Additionally, if you plan to add an addition to your home, it’s always a good idea to make sure insulation is a part of the project.
6. Pests
Mice, insects, and other pests tend to nest within the insulation materials found in a home. If you’ve noticed pests in your attic, basement, or elsewhere in your home, there’s a good chance that your insulation has been damaged and your indoor air quality has been compromised. If you can see the insulation in your home, look for tears or animal feces.
7. Your Home’s Age
The age of your home can tell you a lot about the insulation that was most likely used during construction. The recommended amount of insulation has gone up over the years, and it’s likely that if your home is older, your insulation isn’t up to today’s standards. Not only has the amount gone up but the quality as well. If you do have an older home, it may be time to consider replacing your insulation with a premium and more efficient product, such as foam or cellulose.
Schedule an Energy Assessment With ARC Insulation
We’ve been helping homeowners throughout Naperville and the Greater Chicagoland area insulate their homes for more than 30 years. Our team also stays current with what rebates and incentives are available on our services so we can help guide you toward making your insulation upgrades more affordable. Does your home need more insulation? Contact ARC Insulation today to be sure!
