Can Insulation Help Keep Pests Out of My Home? Koala Insulation Pgh PA

Can Insulation Help Keep Pests Out of My Home?

A pest infestation can take the “home” out of any living space. At best, it’s a nuisance you can solve with a little patience and a few cans of bug spray. At worst, it’s a full-on catastrophe that requires ousting your family for days while exterminators tent and fog the house.

You’ve been thinking of ways to keep pest infestations at bay in your home, so you don’t have to deal with the hassles and inconvenience that come with eradicating them later. You might even be wondering if replacing your home’s insulation could help block pests from entering your home, reducing or eliminating the chance of infestation.

How can insulation prevent pests in my home?

In order for insulation to offer any sort of pest prevention benefit, it needs to dissuade pests attempting to gain entrance from the outside. There are two primary ways in which insulation removal and replacement can help reduce or eliminate pests entering your home:

1. Blocking and sealing

Creating a physical barrier is your first line of defense against pests entering your home. Attic insulation and wall insulation provides that sort of physical barrier against insects and small rodents.

Because batt insulation is typically “faced” with a paper or reflective barrier, it can be more effective to help pests out of an attic than blown-in insulation, which can be easily moved by insects and other pests.

Spray insulation is an excellent choice because it can completely fill wall cavities between studs, sealing off these areas from bugs and other small pests. You can also use spray insulation to seal any leaks caused by settling.

Keep in mind, though, that insulation may not be sufficient to prevent larger pests, such as rodents and raccoons, out of your home.  Some companies have begun to market “rodent-resistant” insulation; however, there is no evidence that insulation - even in spray foam form - is effective for deterring rodents.

2. Humidity control

The second, somewhat hidden way insulation can help reduce or eliminate pests in your home is by helping to control the humidity level inside your home. Many home pests thrive in damp, humid environments - a perfect description for many homes.

One of the most common humidity-loving pests in North America: The German cockroach. These pests require moisture and warmth, so they squeeze their flat bodies through tight cracks to gain entry to humid areas. Humidity control is a significant part of keeping cockroaches from choosing your home as a breeding ground.

House centipedes, which are nocturnal insects with 15 pairs of long legs, also thrive in humid indoor environments. They lack the hydration “cuticles” of other insects, so they cannot remain in any environment that doesn’t supply enough moisture - reducing humidity with insulation replacement is a solid strategy for eliminating them.

Controlling moisture can also deter pests that can damage your home’s structure and interior. For example, problems with wood-boring beetles drop significantly when wood has a moisture content of 14% or less.

Need more help to find out if new insulation is the answer?

No problem - just click here to let us know how we can help, and the friendly professionals at Koala Insulation of Pittsburgh will provide the answers you’re looking for. Whether you want the best in pest protection, a high R-value to keep heating and cooling costs low, or both, we can help find the perfect solution for you.