A few months ago, my air conditioner completely died. I woke up in the middle of the night covered in sweat, and I didn't know what to do. The next day, I called an HVAC expert, and they came out to inspect my system. It turned out that it had failed because of filthy filters and a clogged return duct, which made me sick to my stomach. I had caused the problem, and I needed to learn how to fix things. My HVAC professional taught me a few easy maintenance techniques that I didn't know before, so that I could maintain my new system. Check out this blog to learn more about HVAC yourself.
Improved insulation can make a big difference in comfort levels and energy efficiency. Still, there aren't many parts of your home where you can easily remove your old insulation and put new insulation in its place. Fortunately, your attic is one area where tearing out the old insulation is usually a fairly straightforward job, and it's an option worth considering.
If your attic is currently using old fiberglass insulation, modern spray foam is an alternative that might offer real benefits. But how can you know if spending the money on an attic insulation replacement makes sense for your situation? There aren't any hard and fast rules, but these three situations might justify taking the plunge.
1. Roofing Problems
Your roof and your attic go hand-in-hand. Attics require proper ventilation and heat distribution to help protect your roof from numerous problems. An attic with poor ventilation or improper insulation can suffer from mold issues, ice dams, and excessive heat transfer into the home. In a worst-case scenario, these problems can severely damage your roof or even force an early replacement.
If a roofer believes inadequate insulation is to blame for issues in your attic or on your roof, upgrading your old fiberglass insulation to spray foam insulation can be a great solution. Not only will you enjoy a higher R-value relative to your old insulation (resulting in more energy efficiency), but you'll also be able to solve your roofing issues once and for all.
2. Poor Upstairs Heat Control
Warm air will rise, so upper levels can often suffer the most from inadequate attic insulation. Hot and cold spots may be one common problem, especially if parts of your attic's insulation fail at different rates. Without sufficient insulation, heat will rise through your ceilings and escape into your attic, reducing comfort, wasting energy, and potentially damaging your roof.
While you should always have an HVAC contractor investigate hot and cold spots, you'll often discover that poor insulation is to blame. Replacing your old fiberglass insulation in these cases will improve the efficiency of your home's heating system, saving you money and even extending the life of your equipment by reducing its heating load.
3. Compacted or Damaged Insulation
Attic insulation often sits in exposed batts or completely loose blown fibers. Since most people won't spend much time in their attic, there's little risk of the insulation becoming disturbed or damaged. However, the lack of protection can result in problems decades after insulation. Leaks, rodent infestations, and careless steps can all result in damaged, compacted, or destroyed insulation.
If the insulation in your attic looks like it's in relatively poor shape, there's a good chance it's no longer providing enough thermal protection to keep energy efficiency high. While you can replace your insulation like-for-like, upgrading to spray foam can allow you to remove that old and worn-out insulation while also getting a substantial boost to your home's energy efficiency.
To learn more, contact an attic insulation replacement service in your area.
Share5 January 2023
