8 Signs of a Poorly Insulated Attic | Koala Insulation

Why Insulation Matters in Your Attic: Here are 8 Signs That You Have A Poorly Insulated Attic in Memphis

A home is only comfortable when the temperature is steady, and the indoor air quality is flawless. Before you think your heating and cooling system is responsible for all that, we beg to differ. Most of your home structures alone are not enough to protect you from the elements unless you have proper insulation. And what is more important than a well-insulated attic? A number of warning signs will tell if you have a poorly insulated attic, and our local Memphis insulation experts are here to investigate it.

The team at Koala Insulation of the Midsouth has seen and experienced it all. When you try to find out how many homes in America are under-insulated or poorly insulated, you will always see a percentage of around 90. The main culprit for a home’s energy loss is air infiltration, which is enough to cause a series of problems. In this blog, we want to help you pay attention to significant warning signs that you may have a poorly insulated attic. Plus, what you can do to restore your home’s energy efficiency.

What Is Attic Insulation?

Every home needs thermal insulation to prevent heat transfer and one of the most crucial areas is your attic space. Insulation in your attic is designed to help your home maintain consistent temperatures and keep every room and space conditioned with fresh air. A well-insulated attic prevents heated furnace air from rapidly escaping through floors and ceilings. It also keeps hot, muggy summer air out of your home, so your AC can produce cool air without fail.

Many residential homeowners underestimate their attic space, or worse, they forget to periodically check the condition of the insulation in their attics. Over time, it will lose efficiency or other underlying issues have affected its performance levels.

8 Signs Of A Poorly Insulated Attic

We can guarantee that a poorly insulated attic will immediately cause trouble, no matter what the current season is. It will almost feel like your home is adjusting to the exterior temperatures, which you certainly do not want to experience. As a domestic creature, you cannot tolerate fluctuating temperatures or an overworking HVAC system that is skyrocketing your monthly energy bills. Here are the eight telltale signs that you have a poorly insulated attic:

1. Rapid Heat Loss

When people say heat rises and cold air drops, it is only partly true. Heated air typically wanders in all directions because it expands, which makes it less dense than cold air. (On the other hand, cold air weighs more per unit volume, meaning it has a higher density.) But if you have a poorly insulated attic, it means that cold air and drafts are literally traveling through the ceilings and floors, drawing up the heated furnace air. In the end, it simply dissipates as it escapes through the roof. This, in turn, has a negative impact on your roof health.

1. Ice Dams

Related to the previous warning sign, a poorly insulated attic can also lead to ice damming in the gutters. Freezing rain and cold temperatures can cause cold water to hit your roof. And by the time the water reaches the roofline, it will begin to freeze and the next thing you know, you have a bunch of icicles hanging from your gutter system.   

1. Cold Drafts

If you experience cold drafts, you may first check your window and door frames and ensure your weather stripping installation is still intact. But a poorly insulated attic with worn-out air sealing around the windows are also major culprits for uncomfortable draftiness. An uninsulated attic floor and floor joists will allow drafts to travel through your home, so it will always feel like your house is cold.

1. Increased Utility Bill

If your heating and cooling systems are going overdrive, their interior components can easily overheat and deteriorate. Before you need to spend money on costly repairs, we highly recommend hiring one of our pros for an inspection and energy audit. Besides high energy costs, the last thing you want is expensive HVAC repairs or replacements. 

1. Moisture and Mold Issues

A poorly insulated attic can cause condensation on the ceiling. You may notice cracking or peeling paint or even unsightly water stains. This indicates air infiltration. In a humid region like Memphis, it is not uncommon for air to increase indoor humidity levels. An under insulated attic will likely also have bad ventilation. So once cold air has adjusted to indoor temperature, it condenses. And you’ll ultimately be plagued with water leaks, which, if left untreated, result in mold growth.

1. Arrival of Pests and Rodents

When you hear crawly creatures upstairs, it is most likely not a ghost in the attic, but mice and bugs that have found their way in via nooks and crannies. These bendy creatures may not look like they could fit through a pinhole, but you don’t want to underestimate them. Small gaps and cracks are enough for them to intrude into your home. 

1. Frozen Pipes

If you experience cold drafts, there is a high chance that some unheated areas may have it worse. You’ll be more likely to experience frozen pipes in your utility room, which is not necessarily the basement. Attic HVAC units also have plumbing connections, such as exhaust vents. 

1. Old Insulation

Is your current insulation older than 15 years? Chances are it is and that it has not been inspected. We always recommend our clients to keep their documentation safe in the event of insulation issues. It’s good to keep track of its age and measure its performance levels on a periodic basis. But old age is the most common sign of a poorly insulated attic.

What To Do About a Poorly Insulated Attic

Your insulation pros at Koala offer high-quality insulation products that range from batt to blown-in to spray foam insulation and include professional insulation testing and air sealing services. We also specialize in old insulation removal, ensuring that we will have a clean, healthy space to fix your poorly insulated attic.

Common types of insulation material we use include:

• Cellulose blown-in insulation
• Fiberglass batt, mineral wool batt
• Spray foam insulation

Got a Poorly Insulated Attic? Call The Pros At Koala Insulation For Help!

Is it time to upgrade the insulation in your attic to increase comfort and manage your monthly bills? If you are still indecisive, our experienced insulation pros are happy to perform a no-obligation inspection to help measure your home’s energy efficiency. It is a small energy audit that involves some testing during which we use a thermographic imaging device to check for air leaks, condensations, and other troublemakers.

Contact us today at 901-613-1421 and speak with a knowledgeable customer service representative. We proudly serve our local community of Memphis and nearby neighborhoods, such as Germantown, Arlington, and beyond.