4 Signs Your Insulation Needs Replacing

Insulation is an integral part of maintaining your home’s comfort. It helps you control the temperature in your home, but it does more than that. Good insulation decreases your energy costs because your heating and cooling systems don’t need to work as hard. It also acts as a sound barrier, so you can keep noise where you want it.

However, nothing lasts forever, and insulation is no exception. Many things can influence the life-span of insulation, such as the quality of the products or conditions inside the home. Let’s take a look at 4 signs your insulation is due for replacing, and how to go about it.

Changing Temperatures

The most obvious sign of degrading insulation quality is a change in indoor temperatures. If you’ve had good comfort levels for years and suddenly start feeling a bit icy in winter, it could be because your insulation needs replacing. Another sign may be that temperatures are simply changing quicker than normal. This means airflow inside the house is increasing and could be due to poor insulation.

Increased Energy Bills

The sign that nobody wants to see is higher energy bills. Heating and cooling is the most expensive energy use in the home, so if your bills are unexpectedly on the rise, insulation may be the cause. Without quality insulation, your heating and cooling systems need to work harder to maintain your intended temperature levels. If you can’t pinpoint any other reason for increased electricity costs, it might be time to check your insulation.

You’re Noticing Drafts

Even if you think the temperature in your home is being maintained, you may still start feeling drafts in certain parts of the home. Drafts mean that cold air is sneaking in where it shouldn’t, and the cause could be your insulation. Indoor drafts are particularly prevalent from the roof, however, they do make your investigation a bit easier. If you can identify where you’re most feeling the draft, you’ll have a good idea of whether you need to check the walls, floor or roof.

Wet Insulation

Another sign that your insulation needs replacing is if it’s wet. You may not even realise, because you probably don’t crawl around in the roof too often. However, damp conditions in the roof cavity can result in wet insulation, as can leaks. Not only is wet insulation ineffective, but it can also be dangerous. Mould can form, releasing mycotoxins into the air. In short, wet insulation should be replaced immediately.

How to Fix Your Insulation

Firstly, you should check your insulation thoroughly before rushing out to buy new batts. Often, the insulation itself is fine, but it may have shifted in the walls or ceiling cavity. You may also need to check for damage caused by animals. Often, you can reset it, and carry on without the cost of replacement. If you do need to replace it, however, consult some experts to ensure you’re choosing the right roof insulation, wall insulation and also underfloor insulation. Much of the work can be done yourself, and it shouldn’t cost a fortune.