ORLANDO CENTRAL Blog

4 Signs of Poor Insulation: Staying Well Insulated in Orlando

The last time it snowed in Central Florida was in 1977, which was recorded as one of the coldest winters in the United States by The Weather Channel. While Florida has seen snow flurries since then, it’s been nowhere near the snowstorm that made Orlando, Florida look more like the midwest over 40 years ago. Winter Haven saw about two inches of snow, there was a 35% loss of citrus crops, and thousands of students were able to experience the elusive “snow day.” 

While Central Florida may still regularly see temperatures over 70 degrees in December, that doesn’t mean homeowners shouldn’t start preparing their homes for the upcoming winter. Keeping your home safe and comfortable is about more than just adjusting your thermostat to the heater setting you haven’t touched since January. Having properly installed insulation and quality coverage is a significant factor in keeping you warm this winter. 

Why Your Building Needs Insulation 

Insulation is designed to help control heat transfer, which is the rate at which heat can enter or escape your home. This material is responsible for keeping your home safe and comfortable, contributing significantly to your HVAC system and energy efficiency. Without people installed insulation and good coverage across the house, you risk irregular temperatures, drafts, and even an increased risk of certain health hazards. 

The material is first installed during construction. There was most likely a skilled and experienced insulation expert on hand to follow guidelines provided by the Department of Energy. However, insulation deteriorates over time and needs to be evaluated for retrofitting every few years. Although most materials have the ability to last up to 15 years, variables like weathering, damage, and even problems like pest infestation can increase the rate of decline. As such, it’s crucial to be familiar with the signs of poor insulation before the problems worsen. 

4 Common Signs of Poor Insulation:

An Overworked HVAC System 

Having poorly installed insulation is the equivalent of leaving a window or door open in your home. As such, your HVAC system puts in overtime to try to keep your home temperature regulated. The unit will continuously push heat or cooled air in order to try and evenly distribute the desired temperature throughout the home. 

If you notice one side of your home is struggling to stay cool in the summer or warm in the winter, the material throughout your home may need to be removed and updated. Having new insulation installed not only prevents heat from entering or escaping to and from outside, but also throughout the rooms in your home. 

Uncomfortable Drafts 

Not only can drafts create temperature regulation problems, but you’re also likely to get outdoor pollutants throughout your home like pollen, dust, and dirt. This is due to improper air sealing allowing leakage throughout the house and deteriorated insulation letting heat move through your building with minimal prevention. 

At Koala Insulation of Central and West Orlando, our technicians do a thorough walkthrough of your home to find any gaps or cracks that could be letting in outside air, as well as performing a thermal imaging test to evaluate the insulation within your walls, along the ceiling, and within the floor. 

Discovering Mold or Moisture 

There are a few reasons insulation could be hiding moisture and potential mold growth. If an inexperienced technician didn’t prepare the area on a humid day, moisture can get trapped as insulation is installed. Additionally, most old and deteriorated insulation materials won’t effectively resist water damage; if allowed to sit for too long, mold can begin to form under the damp surface. 

If your insulation hasn't been updated or evaluated in the past ten years, an upgrade can reveal these problem areas, and newer, treated insulation can help prevent moisture retention. For example, while blown-in cellulose is made from about 85% recycled material like recycled newspaper, it's treated with boric acid; this chemical has antifungal properties, preventing mold from being able to effectively spread through the insulation. 

Climbing Energy Costs 

Unfortunately, many homeowners don't notice a significant issue until they take a look at their utility bills and see a sudden uptick in price. The insulation industry is continuously developing new and improved ways to create energy-efficient materials and practices to not only reduce 

waste but also contribute to the reduced energy consumption of your home. With properly installed insulation, quality coverage, and air sealing throughout your home, you're estimated to save on average about 15% on your heating and cooling bills. The EPA provides a breakdown for each climate zone in the United States to determine what kind of savings you can expect from updated material. 

Staying Well Insulted in Orlando 

While Orlando, Florida doesn't necessarily need to worry about icicles on the gutters and snowplows rolling the streets at 3 am, Central Florida homeowners should be considered with their temperature regulation. It's best to have your insulation evaluated in the fall because of the cooler weather and dry air, and winter preparation shouldn’t be ignored just because you’re planning a Christmas on the beach. 

Having a team of experienced industry experts on hand is a great way to quickly and effectively evaluate the state of your insulation without worrying about sacrificing price for the comfort and safety of your home. At Koala Insulation of Central and West Orlando, our team is dedicated to finding you the best material and rates while getting a quick and thorough job done. We work around your schedule and budget in order to make sure your home is ready for winter, the upcoming summer, and even future hurricane seasons. Contact your local insulation technicians today to learn more about how insulation could impact your home.