Is It Time to Upgrade Your Attic Insulation?

Keeping your St. Cloud, Florida, home properly insulated is important for keeping your home a comfortable temperature as well as saving on energy costs. Over time, the insulation in your attic can become compressed or damaged, causing noticeable issues that could make your HVAC system less efficient. Look for the signs listed below to see if it might be time to replace the insulation in your attic.

Changes in the Indoor Temperature

If you are noticing a fluctuation in the temperature of your home, the insulation in your attic or crawlspace could have shifted, degraded, or sustained damage, causing cold or hot air to come into the home. These leaks can cause your system to work harder than it should to maintain a suitable temperature, often with little success. While you can just add insulation to the empty space, we recommended replacing it because it will likely continue occurring in other areas as the insulation ages.

Higher Than Normal Energy Bills

With the outdoor air coming into your home, your HVAC system works harder to get your home to the ideal temperature. As your insulation breaks down or becomes more damaged, you will notice your heating and air conditioning running longer. This additional running will lead to climbing energy bills. If you notice your bills have become higher than normal, it may be a good time to check the state of your insulation.

Pest Infestation

When pests such as squirrels, mice, opossums, bats, or snakes get into your home, they may be all too happy to take up residence in the insulation in your attic and crawl space. As they make their new home in your home, they will make their presence known with droppings and urine that causes damage to the insulation. If you have critters in your home, it is a good rule of thumb to replace the insulation once you have evicted your unwanted guests.

Damp or Wet Insulation

Insulation can become wet due to leaks in the roof, water in your basement, or even blocked vents. Once your insulation has become wet, damp, or moist, it becomes less efficient and also becomes a risk to the air quality in your home. The soft air pockets in insulation trap the air to maintain the temperature, but when these pockets are clogged with water, the insulation cannot perform its job.

Types of Insulation

There are multiple types of insulation to choose from to replace damaged insulation in your attic. Each type has its pros and cons, and choosing the right one is largely dependent on your wants and needs. Some of the most common types of insulation to choose from include:

• Fiberglass – This is the common pink insulation that you will find at your local hardware store in rolls or pre-cut batts. It’s cheap and easy to obtain and install, but it tends to break down quicker and has a higher risk of suffering moisture damage.
• Cellulose – Cellulose is composed of paper that is ground up and treated with boric acid to make it fire and pest resistant. This type of insulation is loaded into a blower and sprayed where it is needed. Cellulose is not as easy to install and can sometimes be a very dirty job, but it does a good job of restricting air movement.
• Spray Foam – Spray foam is considered the top insulation type for your attic as it can fill all of the nooks and crannies of the space to create a perfect barrier for the air. The main con of spray insulation is that it is expensive and should be professionally installed, but when done properly, it can last the life of your home.

Benefits of Installing New Insulation

Aside from replacing worn or damaged insulation, there are also other benefits you can enjoy from having new insulation in your attic. New insulation can:

• Save you money as the outdoor air stays outside of your home.
• Benefit the environment since you will save on your energy usage.
• Prevent long-term moisture damage by making sure everything is sealed properly and protected from leaks.

Experiencing any of the signs listed above? Contact Frank’s Air Conditioning at (407) 490-2070 today to find out the best options to replace your attic insulation.

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