Upgrading your attic insulation can have one of the biggest impacts on your home comfort, heating and cooling costs, and the overall health of your South Central Pennsylvania home. But not too many people spend a ton of time in their attics, and even if you do, it’s not always easy to visually identify the problems that need fixing.
Luckily, there are often some tell-tale signs that you could benefit from replacing your old attic insulation—here are five of them.
1. Your Second Floor Is Too Hot in the Summer
Ever walk up your stairs on a hot summer afternoon, and feel the temperature rising with every step? If your upstairs rooms are hot, and are often a different temperature than the downstairs, the problem likely has to do with your attic insulation and air sealing.
2. Your Heating and Cooling Bills Are Too High
Because of the way that heat and air move through a home, the very top and the very bottom of your Carlisle or Harrisburg home are often considered the most important to be well-protected. High energy bills are usually a good sign that your home isn’t keeping out the outdoor weather as well as it should be.
Improperly installed or aging insulation in your attic can create problems throughout your entire house. It’s also possible that you just don’t have enough insulation in your attic—especially if your insulation is very old, and installed back when attic insulation R-value standards weren’t as high.
3. Your Upstairs Is Drafty
Does it ever feel like there must be a window open somewhere in your home, even though you’ve checked them all and they’re closed? If there are air leaks in your attic, or if your insulation is poorly installed and there are gaps, you will likely feel drafts on your upper floors. Most insulation types are primarily thermal barriers, which makes air sealing in an attic just as important to your home comfort and energy efficiency as removing old insulation and replacing it.
4. You Have a Pest Problem
Mice, rats, insects, squirrels—these common pests can ruin the insulation in your Greencastle home if they’re able to find their way in, and the attic is a common place to find them. Not only can these animals nest in and even eat your insulation (which will weaken its ability to keep your home comfortable), their waste can create unhealthy air and indoor air quality (IAQ) problems in your house.
5. You Have Moisture or Mold Problems
Moisture or mold in a home is usually a sign that you have indoor humidity issues. Mold or moisture in your attic or crawlspace can also be the result of air leaks that are letting in water and humid air. Moisture and mold are bad not only for your health, but also for your insulation. If you can see that your attic insulation is wet or has mold on it, you’ll need to dispose of it and replace it.
Schedule a Home Energy Audit Today with Energy Smart
Have you been reading this blog and nodding your head in agreement? Are you starting to think that you probably do need some home improvement work done to your York house, but aren’t sure how much insulation should be in your attic?
The best first step is scheduling a home energy audit from a qualified professional insulation contractor like Energy Smart Home Improvement. An audit is a comprehensive review of your home testing for current performance levels. Using high-tech equipment like infrared cameras and blower doors, we’ll be able to assess exactly where your home could use more insulation and air sealing.