ORLANDO CENTRAL Blog

How Do I Know When to Replace My Attic Insulation?

Most insulation materials installed in your home have about 15 years before being considered deteriorated and effectively useless. However, there are several factors to consider that affect this range, including the age of your house. Most homeowners also don’t regularly check the state of their insulation; if there’s been moisture exposure, pest infestation, or even if the last installation wasn’t properly covered, you could be looking at a much shorter time for deterioration. 

If you’re starting to see a spike in your heating and cooling bills or an uncharacteristic rise over time in utility bills, it may be time to check out your attic’s insulation. In this article, Koala Insulation of Central and West Orlando provides some crucial knowledge on the significance and qualities of your home’s insulation. First, it’s important to know what attic insulation contributes to your household. Then, get to know both how often you should be replacing the material and what signs to watch out for that indicate you’re in need of an earlier installation. 

The Purpose of Attic Insulation 

The primary purpose of insulation within a home is to regulate heat transfer, the rate at which heat enters and escapes through your home’s structure. Whether you use your attic for storage, another bedroom, or you haven’t cracked the hatch since you moved in, attic insulation is one of the first defenses against losing desired heat in the winter and trapping unwanted heat in the summer. Without effectively insulating the attic’s ceiling, walls, and floors, this area becomes a doorway for the outside temperature to affect your home’s temperatures. 

There are many different insulation materials you can choose from to cover the attic. Fiberglass, mineral wool, and cellulose are the most common to have to line your attic floor, typically in blown-in or "loose fill" form. This is the material that looks like stuffing or fluffy clouds your parents may have warned you against touching when you were a child. Spray foam insulation is more likely to line the walls and ceilings as this material helps with structural integrity and moisture resistance. Learn more about the types of insulation and their comparable traits in our article How To Choose Insulation. 

How Often Should You Replace Attic Insulation? 

On average, insulation takes about 15 years to start peeling from walls and looking deflated on your attic’s floor. However, as mentioned before, there are a number of factors that can significantly increase the rate of deterioration for the various material types. Problems like weather, improper installation and coverage, and even homeowner error are your most common issues that slowly build up to cause problems for your upper floors. 

Unfortunately, for many homeowners that are buying a pre-existing home (especially first-time home buyers!), there isn't an accurate estimate on how old the insulation is unless it was just recently replaced. There are several obvious indicators that your attic insulation is finally past its time of usefulness. 

Signs You Need to Replace Attic Insulation:

Irregular Temperatures 

One of the first signs most homeowners notice is when they experience irregular temperatures throughout the house, such as one room being hotter or colder than the rest, drafts, and cold spots. This is especially important if you notice the HVAC system seems to be putting in a significant amount of work, running for longer periods throughout the day to adjust the temperature by even a few degrees. 

Moldy or Wet Insulation 

It's important to habitually check your attic's insulation, especially after a particularly rough storm, hurricane, or damage to the roof. Especially in Florida, where hurricane season can mean a significant increase in maintenance fees, you want to keep an eye out for any depressions or puddles in the attic that could soil the surrounding insulation. While some types have moisture-resistant properties, old insulation could still be covering damaged structures if not moved and treated. 

High Utility Bills 

Lastly, one area to keep an eye out for is the increase in your monthly utility bills. Unexplained jumps in your bills and fees could mean that your insulation has begun to deteriorate. While it could be the fault of improper installation, pest nesting, or even shifting because of recent storage or renovations, taking too long to remedy the problem could lead to higher prices. Save your utility bill, HVAC system maintenance fees, and insulation installation costs by having a regular check-up system to get ahead of these issues. 

Consulting Your Local Insulation Expert 

It’s crucial to have the right expertise checking your home to ensure your attic insulation is properly installed and has effective coverage. Being able to evaluate the depth, condition, and estimated R-value of your current insulation is just a small part of a thorough insulation inspection. Looking for hidden damages, cracks or holes that could contribute to air leakage, and evaluating possible health hazards are examples of just a few things that should also be a part of their checklist. 

When speaking with an experienced technician from Koala Insulation of Central and West Orlando, the bottom line goal is to educate you and your household. Not only do we schedule free evaluations based on your availability, but we also take the time to explain our walk-through and evaluation process to give you a better understanding of the quality you should be looking for. Dedicated to finding you the best savings while still prioritizing your safety and comfort, our team also has a number of affordable solutions to choose from. Contact our team today to schedule your free evaluation and learn more about our services. 407.743.3487