NEW ORLEANS Blog

Common Mistakes of DIY Insulation

Having insulation in your home is a must, it regulates your home’s temperature, saves energy, and will help soundproof your home…if done correctly. Not installing insulation correctly can cause it to be ineffective and lead to a range of damage. Koala Insulation of Greater New Orleans is experienced and trained on how to properly install new insulation, older home renovations, and correcting DIY projects.

In order to help our DIY homeowners that are the weekend warriors that get things done, we have a few tips that may help avoid some of the problems that we see on a day-to-day basis.

The TOP Mistakes of DIY Insulation

1. Neglecting to Seal Air Flow

Insulation is a barrier that slows the rate at which heat enters and leaves the home. Insulation is not a barrier to air movement. The unchecked air between conditioned and unconditioned spaces will make all the new insulation pointless and cause your HVAC to work overtime. Koala Insulation air seals in all the places needed such as doors, windows, around electrical wires and boxes, around lights and vents, etc.  PRO TIP: purchase light can covers and have them sealed as well.  This is a main air leakage point in attics.

2. Spending Time and Money Pulling out Old Insulation

Many DIYers start their insulation process by pulling out the old insulation. Of course, this is a must if the old insulation has been exposed to pests, fire, water, and mold. Removing insulation is a dirty job though and has the risk of containing asbestos, which can be very dangerous. A lot of DIYers don’t realize that if the old insulation is in a safe condition, you can also save time and money by blowing net insulation right on top! If it must go, or you are unsure, call an expert to have your insulation removed and find what is best for you and your home.  PRO-TIP: Most homes - especially in this area are grossly under-insulated.  When insulating, make sure you are getting the correct R-Value out of your insulation.  For best results in this area, an attic should be at an R-38 - with blown insulation, that is a depth of 12-15 inches.  Don’t just fill your cavities to the top.  You’ll be well under-insulated if you do and energy will simply bleed into your home.

3. Blocking Air Flow

Soffits and Vents enable airflow that is meant to reduce humidity levels and lengthen the lifetime of your roof. Obstructing the airflow intended for roof ventilation is another common mistake. This can result in high humidity levels in the attic which will cause mold and other related issues.  PRO-TIP: make sure you’re not covering the airflow.  Use rafter baffles to allow your attic to continue to breathe if you’re adding more insulation.

4. Overstuffing

The more insulation the best right? Well, NO.  Unfortunately, packing in insulation squeezes the air pockets shut, which makes the insulation less effective. The air pockets make the insulation look fluffy which slows temperature change.  Air itself is an insulator, so remember that during the installation process.  PRO-TIP: don’t push the insulation down to try to fit more in.  Just let it rest on top of itself as it naturally is blown out.

5. Stopping Short

The most common mistake made by DIYers when insulating is not being thorough enough. I know this can seem confusing, don’t overstuff and make sure you do enough, but leaving gaps and holes will reduce the product’s energy efficiency and will likely require correction down the road.  PRO-TIP:  attics are hot and uncomfortable.  Working in an attic is tough stuff for people doing it themselves.  Make sure you’re doing the job right and adding enough insulation everywhere.  Take breaks early and often, drink much more water than you normally do, and get the job done right.  We often hear from our customers that don’t finish jobs that it is because they were too uncomfortable to finish the job and realized it was better left for the professionals.

We always enjoy talking about insulation with our customers, even if they want to handle the job themselves and are looking to save money.  More power to you, but use these tips to help out and call us when you get too uncomfortable and we’ll get it done.

90% of homes are under-insulated, so this type of investment is likely due.  It will help reduce your energy bills and make your home more comfortable.  See the link here.