CHICAGO - WESTERN SUBURBS Blog

7 Signs Your Attic Needs Insulation

The attic is one of those spaces most home-owners give little thought to. Some serve as storage for Christmas decorations, boxes full of memories and outgrown toys. And others are almost sealed off completely, serving seemingly no purpose at all. 

It’s easy to ignore your attic space. After all, out of sight, out of mind, right? But, do you know that your attic actually holds the key to a comfortable, safe, and efficient home? It’s true – a well-insulated attic equals a happy house!

If you’re wondering if your attic needs insulation, your home is giving you clues. To find the answer, start by asking yourself these seven questions:  

1. Is the Temperature in Your Home Consistent? 

Whether it’s a hot summer day or cold winter night, your home’s temperature shouldn’t vary from room to room. 

If you have a certain bathroom that’s always freezing or a bedroom that everyone refuses to sleep in because it’s always too hot, you may have an insulation problem on your hands. 

A properly insulated attic keeps your home’s temperature steady from room to room and lets your furnace and air-conditioner run more efficiently, too! 

2. Do You Worry About Frozen Pipes? 

If you know, you know. Frozen pipes are a nightmare, especially here in Chicago, where winter cold snaps can last for weeks on end. 

The best way to keep your pipes from freezing is to bundle up your home with fresh insulation. And it all starts with your attic. An unfinished attic that has the right insulation – like blow-in insulation – keeps your walls, floors and everything inside them, toasty warm. If you have an attic you’re considering finishing someday, spray foam insulation might be the right choice for you.  

3. Does the Snow on Your Roof Melt? 

A day or two after a snow storm, take a look at your roof. It might feel counterintuitive, but you actually want your roof to be packed with snow. Why? Because a well-insulated attic will keep your roof consistently cool throughout the winter. 

A poorly-insulated attic will cause patches of snow to melt, resulting in dreaded ice dams. What are ice dams? They’re pesky (to put it nicely) ridges of ice that form after snow melts and freezes, melts and freezes...over and over and over. 

Over time, ice dams block the melt-off from draining, resulting in damage to your roofline and water leaks in your home’s interior walls. 

Removing ice dams is expensive, and practically impossible during a Midwest polar vortex. The first step to solving your ice dam issues is having an insulation expert come out for an inspection. Fix the problem from the inside out, and say bye-bye to ice dams this winter! 

4. Are Your Heating & Cooling Bills Rising? 

Open your heating or air-conditioning bill and look at your usage compared to last year. Are you using more energy? And is it costing you a boatload? A bill that’s creeping up is a sign you need new insulation.  

The right insulation is the best way to cut your energy costs. Adding insulation to your attic can easily pay for itself over time in lower heating and cooling bills. 

5. Do You Have Critters and Creepy Crawlers in Your Attic?

There’s no worse middle-of-the-night sound than the scratch, scratch, scratch of tiny claws, teeth or wings (gasp!) above your head. 

If you’ve had a wake-up call from a furry friend who wants to call your attic home, you may have an insulation problem. Problematic insulation not only lets mice, bugs and other unwelcome guests find their way in, but it makes a perfect new home for them too. And who can blame them? So fluffy and warm, right? 

But, no one wants a family of squirrels living in their attic (yes, we’ve seen it!). If you suspect critters have ruined your current insulation, having new insulation installed can solve your creepy, crawly headache. 

6. Does Your Home Smell Musty? 

It’s the four-letter word that makes every home-owner shudder: mold. 

If your home smells musty, or if you have family members whose allergies are bothersome, make sure you have a professional inspect your attic’s insulation. 

It’s very common for moisture to get trapped in your attic, which can quickly lead to a problem with dampness, mildew and even mold. 

The first step to a moisture-free attic is to remove old insulation that has water damage. Next, decide what kind of insulation should go in its place, and consider installing a solar attic fan. One of Koala’s experts will help you choose the best options, making your worries about a damp attic a thing of the past. 

7. Is Your Home is Old? 

Older homes are full of the kind of charm you just can’t get in a brand-new build. And, they’re also full of old home quirks. Luckily, an attic with old insulation is a problem that’s easily solved. Even if your house is just 20 years old, it’s worth scheduling a free inspection to see what kind of improvement can be made.  

Putting in new insulation makes your home more comfortable and energy-efficient. A bonus is that getting the old, dirty insulation removed will help the air quality in your house too! 

If you’re wondering how often insulation needs to be replaced, we have good news. The type of insulation that we install today has a super-long life span, so once it’s done it’ll last a lifetime! 

How to Fix an Insulation Problem in Your Attic 

If the thought of replacing the insulation in your attic is overwhelming, take a deep breath. This is a project best left to the experts, and the team at Koala Insulation makes the entire process a breeze. 

Most projects can be completed in just a day, leaving you with a happy, healthy and energy-efficient home overnight – literally! 

Give us a shout with questions and to schedule your free inspection in Chicago’s western suburbs. 

Until next time, the Team at Koala Insulation