Your home’s insulation regulates heat flow, keeping your home at comfortable temperatures during the extreme winter and summer months. However, with time, your insulation settles and losses its thermal resistance or R-Value depending on the material. This reduces the efficiency of your insulation and may result in both discomfort and inflated energy expenses.
What Is Settled Insulation?
Blown in attic insulation products like cellulose, fiber glass and rock wool are made of loose fibers and contain air pockets between them. Over time, the insulation settles, reducing coverage and resulting in gaps that allow air to escape. This is usually caused by gravity, and although cellulose insulation is the most preferred insulation material due its high R-Value, it may settle more than its counterparts.
Every loose-fill insulation settles at some point, but it doesn’t go below the recommended R-Value. However, improper installation and moisture damage can accelerate the settling of your insulation. Also, cellulose insulation absorbs more water than fiberglass or rock wool, which makes it settle quicker and lose its R-Value much faster than other types of insulation.
Your insulation should be between 10-16 inches deep. If you measure your attic’s insulation and it falls short, you need to have it re-filled.
How Often Should You Replace your Insulation?
The insulation in your home can last anywhere between 80-100 years when properly installed and maintained. However, it can be tough determining when your insulation is failing. Below are some of the signs to look out for that will help you establish whether or not you need to replace it.
If You Live in an Old Home
Just like technology, which is constantly evolving, insulation products continue to be improved for efficiency and energy savings. If you live in a home from the 1970s and you haven’t replaced its insulation, it’s time to call your insulation contractor for new and better insulation.
Leaking Roof
Moisture has a way of accelerating settling and consequently deteriorating your insulation. If you notice leakages or evidence of moisture like mold on your insulation, you should have it replaced. Mold will grow on humid and warm surfaces and will not only ruin your insulation, but also pose health risks.
High Energy Bills
When your insulation isn’t working properly, your heating and cooling system will work extra hard to maintain the right temperatures in your home. This leads to increased energy bills during winter and summer as your appliances uses more energy. You should have your insulation checked and possibly replaced if you notice that your bills are going through the roof.
Pests Invasion
Pests like pigeons and rats can invade your attic and tear up your insulation, ruin it with their waste or even reproduce in it. As soon as you notice these unwanted guests, you should replace your insulation after evicting them.
Drafts and fluctuating temperatures also show that there's inadequate blockage of outside air and you might need to replace your insulation. If you’ve issues with your blown-in attic insulation, contact us at today at 702-262-7847 to schedule your attic insulation inspection, replacement as well as re-filling of settled insulation.
