SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Blog

4 Reasons to Insulate Your Southwest Florida Home in the Fall

Here in Florida, we don't necessarily have the changing color of leaves or winter coat sales to mark the start of fall. However, the gradual drop in temperature, shorter days, and chillier evenings can still affect the comfort of our homes - especially if the house happens to be underinsulated. Luckily, fall is the best time to have these problems evaluated and to learn more about how insulation and air sealing affect your home throughout the year.

Insulation’s Effect on Your Home

The use of insulation will keep a house warmer by reducing the rate at which heat leaves and enters the building. In the hotter days of summer, the insulation will help keep the heat outside of your home while it will keep the heat inside of your home during the winter. Having an underinsulated home can result in several unwanted side effects including drafts, poor indoor air quality, and higher utility costs. Having an underinsulated home can be similar to having your windows open while having your air conditioning or heater on.

When consulting an experienced insulation contractor, the team at Koala Insulation of Southwest Florida does more than check for deteriorated insulation. It’s also about canvassing your building envelope for cracks and gaps that need to be air sealed, as well as checking out the condition of insulation throughout the house in places like your walls and crawl spaces. An industry expert will be able to provide a thorough breakdown of the current condition of your home’s insulation, targeting any health hazards or problem starters that could lead to moisture, mold growth, or other issues.

Why Fall is the Best Time to Insulate

The cool, dry air and overall winter preparations make the fall months the perfect time to insulate your home. However, fall isn’t only a perfect time to help your local insulation experts; it can also benefit DIY handymen that are looking to learn more about insulation. Here is how the fall months are perfect for both you and your household.

Cooler Weather

Due to insulation being tucked away in attics, walls, crawl spaces, and basements it can be difficult and uncomfortable to get into and can often lead to the "out of sight, out of mind" mindset for many homeowners. Getting into these spaces for inspections can even be tricky while factoring in the Florida heat and humidity can often make these inspections even more uncomfortable and difficult for many people.

Whether you're making a casual inspection into your attic insulation or you're hiring a private contractor to test your insulation, the cooler temperatures of fall can make the job a little easier and more comfortable. Even though the heat of Florida will make most of the year difficult for inspections, the dropping temperatures of October and November make these months the perfect time to have your insulation evaluated.

Reduced Moisture

In Florida, it can feel like it never stops raining and the state is known for its high humidity. However, during the fall months, it is noticeably dryer and less humid. This makes the fall months the perfect time to inspect and replace any insulation you have in your home. Reduced moisture levels are critical to consider when insulating in a Florida home.

While insulating in higher humidity isn’t an impossible job, it does come with its own unique risks and challenges. When installing in high humidity there is a chance that moisture will be trapped in by the material. This can cause damage to the insulation as well as increase the risk of mold growth. While some types of insulation are designed to work against moisture retention, putting material over a moist area would be sealing away the damages. These materials are designed to prevent the damages from occurring, not get rid of existing moisture.

Preparing for a Warm Winter

Even though seeing snow and sleet in Florida is extremely rare - and essentially impossible in southwest Florida - it does not mean the temperature can drop significantly, especially during the night. With Florida's famously "warm" winters it may be hard to realize the negative effects that the cold will have on your home. Making sure the house has properly insulated and air-sealed window sills, door jams, and pipes can ensure that your home will stay warm and cozy during the long winter nights; as well as keeping your house structurally sound against the dropping temperatures.

Koala Insulation of Southwest Florida uses a quick and easy thermal imaging test to look at where your home may possibly be under-insulated. This not only ensures your home is properly insulated and covered, but also provides target pain points to review for removal and reinstallation to stay comfortable year-round.

Better Rates

You could consider fall insulation rates like the chicken and the egg - what came first? Do the better rates make fall the best time to insulate or did the rates come from the season being the best time already? While these are questions probably better left to an economist, the fall has been the best time to find deals on insulation materials and evaluations.

With Koala Insulation, we provide free evaluations and financial options that can help you focus on comfort and safety rather than upgrading your home with costly renovations. We can also provide more education and data with our online learning center, giving you a better understanding of the importance of insulation materials and installations. Learn more with our blog and articles here!

Consult Your Southwest Florida Insulation Experts

Whether you are looking to DIY your home's insulation or hire an insulation contractor, it's important to make sure you have an expert technician available to perform an evaluation and provide guidance. However, while your local hardware store may advertise insulation material discounts, it's important to know exactly what you're looking at. When finding the right insulation team for the job, you can often find savings across the board when it comes to material, removal, coverage, etc.

Our team at Koala Insulation of Southwest Florida is dedicated to finding you the best rate for your household’s budget without sacrificing your needs. Whether you’re looking for DIY advice, more information on insulation and air sealing, or to get your home evaluated in preparation for the upcoming winter months, we’re available with a free evaluation and checklist. Contact your local industry experts for more information about fall benefits and schedule your next inspection.