PEARLAND Blog

What is Retrofit Insulation? Your Home May Be in Need of an Upgrade!

What is Retrofit Insulation?

Retrofitting insulation is the process of insulating or adding new insulation to an existing building. When your home was being constructed, there was most likely an experienced contractor on-hand with insulation experience, or an industry expert themself. These individuals can direct the team to effectively distribute insulation based on building codes, regional requirements, and guidelines from the Department of Energy.

While this insulation may have kept the building temperature regulated and climate-controlled for a few years, the material gradually deteriorates. This means that over time, many areas need to be reinsulated throughout the lifespan of your house. Although there are some insulation materials that can last up to 15 years, the rate of deterioration can be increased by moisture, pest infestation, and other forms of damage.

When you call your local insulation professionals, they can evaluate the current condition of your home’s insulation. With a better overview, you and your household can determine where you’re in need of updated insulation and how you can benefit from retrofitting the current material. By adding sufficient material to deteriorated areas that are lacking, you can reduce the number of costly damages and health hazards.

6 Benefits of Retrofit Insulation

After understanding what it means to retrofit insulation, it may be beneficial to learn why requesting this service for your home could be helpful to improve your environment. From improved temperature regulation to effective preparation, learning more from a local insulation expert can help to improve the comfort and safety of your home. Here are a few key reasons to look closer at the advantages of retrofitting the insulation in your house.

1. Thermal Performance

One of the most important functions of insulation is its ability to regulate heat transfer. This is the rate at which heat can flow in and out through a structure. Poor temperature regulation throughout the house is one of the first ways many homeowners find out their insulation has deteriorated and needs to be retrofitted. If you have one room or even an entire side of the house that won’t stay as warm or cool as the rest of the building, you may have an imbalance of sufficient insulation.

1. Noise Reduction

When your home is properly insulated with updated materials, it can help to significantly reduce the noise pollution throughout the house. One of the main benefits is the absorption of outside congestion like traffic, passing pedestrians, or other noises from your neighborhood. However, an additional benefit is that this can also help to reduce sounds from room to room. One Koala Insulation customer told our team that they could hear the garage door every morning when their husband left for work so clearly that it was essentially her alarm clock. Once the team came in to update the insulation, she could no longer hear footsteps from the other room, let alone the opening garage door!

1. Mold and Pest Resistance

There are a number of insulation materials that are chemically treated or naturally able to help reduce mold growth and deter pest infestation. For example, during production, blown-in cellulose is treated with a chemical called boric acid; this reduces moisture absorption and additionally kills some pests that ingest the material. By discussing your options with local insulation professionals, you and your household can determine if you need to remove the material and retrofit the structure in order to combat these pain points.

1. Preparation Against Extreme Temperatures

Preparing for extreme temperatures is incredibly important for improving comfort and safety. Instead of waiting until you can no longer stand the discomfort, get ahead of the problem to be ready! Not only can this help to regulate the temperature throughout the house, but it also keeps in desired warmth during the winter and blocks unwanted heat during the summer. Spring and fall are the best seasons to insulate for preparation, but don't let the new month deter you from scheduling a free evaluation - get your update as soon as possible!

1. HVAC System Support

When you take the initiative to retrofit the insulation in your home to benefit thermal performance, you’re also effectively reducing the need to use your HVAC system. When you don’t regularly update the material, you’re likely to increase the risk of an overworked AC and maintenance fees to keep it running efficiently. Insulation can not only help to keep the room temperature consistent within your home but it also keeps the desired temperature for longer, meaning your system needs to run less.

1. Utility Bill Reduction

Last but certainly not least, the thermal regulation and reduced HVAC usage will contribute significantly to the relief of your monthly energy bills. Retrofitting your insulation with a local expert can help you to increase energy savings while reducing material waste and maintenance needs. Newer material can help to reduce the risk of damages and health hazards that come with old, untouched insulation.

Where Can I Find Local Retrofitting Services?

Retrofitting insulation may sound like an easy job - simply remove old insulation and add in new material! - but it often needs a trained eye to perform the job well. Many homeowners believe that more insulation means better thermal regulation. However, this ignores a number of variables: whether you’re insulating the correct area, if you’re wasting material, if your new material is efficient, etc.

At Koala Insulation of Pearland, our industry professionals are trained and experienced in finding materials that are cost-effective and energy-efficient while also taking into account the specialized needs of your home. By providing free evaluations, we can get a better understanding of where your home lacks sufficient insulation and what areas may need to be updated in the near future. By working with our insulation experts, you and your household can learn more about your home and make informed decisions. Contact Koala Insulation of Pearland today to schedule your free evaluation and learn more about insulation’s impact on your environment.