In the winter, insulation keeps your house warm and cozy, and in the summer, it keeps it pleasantly cool. But if it's not done right, your home will be drafty and have poor air quality. Also, your energy bills will spike up.
Here's how to tell if you have poor insulation in your house and how to fix it.
How to Tell You Have Poor Insulation
One sign that you don’t have good insulation is that you notice cracks in walls or ceilings. Another sign of poor insulation is when you hear noises coming from the attic or crawl space while you're upstairs. An additional sign of poor insulation is visible gaps between the siding and insulation on walls, soffits, eaves, and roof edges.
Insulation can improve your home's comfort and energy efficiency. It comes in lots of different varieties, like cellulose, fiberglass, and foam board. The material you choose will largely depend on what's available in your area and how much you want to spend.
Adding Insulation Is Worth the Cost
With better insulation your home will be more energy efficient. You can start saving energy as a homeowner by identifying and eliminating key sources of wasted energy. For example, if your walls and floors are much colder during the winter, this suggests you need crawl space insulation because if this part of your home is vented or open to the outside, freezing air will drift up into the rest of the house.
If your home is drafty, you might need better insulation. You'll save money on your energy bill while making your home more comfortable because insulation reduces heat transfer by trapping air between fibers. It also prevents condensation, reduces noise, and maintains the structural integrity of your home.
There are many distinct types of insulation, but they can generally be broken down into two categories: natural, like wool, and manufactured, like fiberglass. Usually, natural insulation is made from renewable resources like wool or cotton, which are eco-friendly and often recyclable. Unfortunately, one problem with using natural materials is that they aren't as effective as synthetic materials.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of the weather, improving your insulation will make your home as comfortable as possible without raising your energy bills. It is a relatively low-cost and low-effort measure that can assist you in saving money over the years. It's also an excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint. Research professionals in your area that can help you upgrade your home’s insulation.
