There are many aspects of your home that operate each and every day without your intervention. Your vents, your furnace (hopefully), and your insulation are just a few examples of the systems in your home that are designed to keep you comfortable with minimal maintenance.
While you may rely on them every day to keep your family comfortable and safe, it is the unfortunate fact that your home does age, and its systems age right along with it. For example, your insulation is one of the most durable parts of your home, but it won’t last forever.
As your attic insulation starts to age, it can impact your home in a variety of different ways. So, how do you know if you have old attic insulation? Check out the key signs of an attic insulation problem below.
Your insulation has the important job of helping you regulate the temperature throughout your home without the use of electricity or other fuel sources. It works passively by trapping heat in its material to slow down the energy transfer process.
Think of insulation like one big cozy blanket for your home. In the summertime, it blocks the heat from making its way into your home so your living spaces are cooler and more comfortable. In the winter, it helps keep the heat inside your home for longer while preventing the colder air from making its way inside.
If your insulation is well-maintained and doesn’t experience any sort of damage or disaster, you can expect it to work reliably for 20 years or more before needing to be replaced. Of course, this all depends on the kind of insulation you have and how often you address any issues that arise during your homeownership.
Everyone wants to have a fresh-smelling home, so this sign might be a quick indication that something is amiss in your home. If you catch a whiff of mold or something musty in your home, it’s time to investigate the areas of your home that don’t see daily traffic.
You will quickly notice mold problems in your bathrooms and living spaces, but you might not discover the issue as quickly if it is developing in your basement or attic space. Unfortunately, your attic space is at a higher risk of exposure to moisture caused by roof leaks or damage. This problem can quickly compromise your insulation, which makes it harder for your insulation to work properly.
If your insulation gets wet and can’t dry out completely, mold growth becomes more likely. Over time, a mold infestation will settle into your insulation and will start to give off a musty or earthy scent.
Another sign that your attic insulation is old or compromised is if your family members start to experience heightened allergy symptoms in your home. Experiencing allergy symptoms inside during high pollen count days is relatively normal, as allergens can easily sneak into your home through open windows and doors. However, if your children start to have allergy symptoms year-round or they get worse all of a sudden for no apparent reason, it might be due to your insulation.
Mold growth on insulation can certainly exacerbate symptoms, but old insulation can also be a problem because it is not as effective as it used to be. Insulation acts as a barrier between the outside world and the interior of your home, so it helps block out allergens and dust on a daily basis.
As it breaks down and starts to get old, it will become less effective at stopping debris from getting in your home. Gaps can appear and the unconditioned exterior air will be able to infiltrate your home much more easily.
Paying for your heat and air conditioning is a normal part of homeownership, which means you most likely have a good idea of what your bills will be each month. Regular increases during the winter and summer months are expected, but you should never be surprised by an unexplained spike in your energy bill.
As your insulation ages, it doesn’t work as effectively during the energy transfer process, which means your home will be more vulnerable to temperature swings throughout the day.
When the exterior air makes its way into your home, your thermostat will recognize that change and will signal your HVAC system to turn on to reverse the imbalance. Unfortunately, if your attic insulation is old, that conditioned air will quickly escape out of the gaps and cracks in your home and your thermostat will signal again for your HVAC system to reverse the problem. This vicious cycle will continue and will make your energy bill skyrocket until the problem is fixed.
If you notice that your bill is higher than you think it should be, compare it to your statement from last year around the same time. If the fee is much higher without a significant temperature change, it may be time to head into your attic to take a look at your insulation.
If your insulation is damaged, it will certainly look different than when you had it originally installed. Old or damaged insulation is often discolored or doesn’t have the same appearance as it did when it was fresh. Pink fiberglass insulation can be muted or faded, and cellulose insulation can look more grey than usual.
Damaged insulation will also clearly be compromised in some way. Check for wet spots or mold in and around your insulation, being careful not to disturb the material. Some mold spores can be dangerous to inhale, so use extreme caution when evaluating your insulation.
You should also check to see if your insulation has been thinned or squished to the point that it can no longer function smoothly. Batt insulation should still look fluffy and thick, and loose-fill insulation should still cover your floor in a comprehensive layer without bare or missing patches.
If you notice any of these problems, it’s time to call a reputable attic insulation removal and replacement team right away. The right team will handle your removal, address any issues like water leaks or home damage, and then install fresh material. They will even clean up as they go, leaving you with a fresh and functional home once more.
Old attic insulation needs to be replaced! Contact the team at Master Attic at (800) 285-4009 for quick attic insulation removal and replacement.
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