Is your home keeping you warm enough this winter? If you’re struggling to keep your house warm or you’re spending way too much on your monthly energy costs, you might need to consider giving your attic insulation a boost.
Besides keeping heat inside your home during the cold winter months, attic insulation is one of the unsung heroes of your home, keeping out sounds, water, and pests while preventing ice dams that could damage your roof. Unfortunately, over time, your insulation can start to break down, taking its benefits with it.
In this post from The Construction Group in Woodbury, MN, we’re looking at the top signs your home might need attic insulation. To connect with our home insulation services, give us a call today.
1. YOU HAVE ICE DAMS
Next time there’s been snow on your roof for a few days, take a walk around the perimeter of your house. Are there icicles hanging from the edges of your roof? If so, you probably have ice dams, and they’re wreaking havoc on your roofing shingles.
As heat rises during the winter months, it travels by conduction through your underinsulated roof, melting the snow on top. This snow will refreeze when it reaches the edge of your roof, forming a dam. The water trapped by ice dams has nowhere to go, which means it can get into your home and damage your roof. Ice dams can also rip your gutters right off of your roof or even lead to foundation problems.
The best way to prevent ice dams is by upgrading your attic insulation. A better-insulated attic will keep heat inside your home instead of allowing it to escape through your roof, which adds up to fewer ice dams and less chance of damage to your home.
2. YOUR INSULATION HAS WATER DAMAGE
If your home has undergone roofing repairs in the past few years, there’s a good chance your attic insulation is in less than prime condition. Water can be incredibly destructive to attic insulation, damaging its insulating properties and even leading to mold growth. It’s always a good idea to have your roofer take a look at your insulation and attic anytime you’re having work done and knock out any repairs at the same time. And if you’ve had recent roof issues or a leak in your ceiling, you can bet there’s an issue with your attic insulation.
3. YOUR HEATING BILL IS SHOCKING
We expect our utility bills to be a little high during the winter months. But if they’re shockingly high, it probably means your furnace is having to work far too hard to keep up with the heat you’re losing through your attic and walls. The same is true during the summer months, when heat transfer through your attic and walls can have you running your air conditioner on high all the time.
Attic insulation upgrades and spray foam wall insulation should make a dramatic difference in your heating and cooling costs. At The Construction Group, our insulation installers offer Owens Corning Pink Fiberglass Blown-in Insulation and spray foam insulation to create the ultimate seal. And if you’re saving on your energy costs, you’re also reducing your household impact on the environment.
4. YOUR HOME HAS UNINVITED GUESTS
The last thing you need is unwanted visitors moving into your attic. But if you’ve recently had to deal with some type of pests or animals inside your attic or living space, there’s a good chance you need to replace your insulation. Maybe you’ve had squirrels get into your attic by eating through a vulnerable spot in your soffit, or perhaps you’ve caught a few mice. Either way, these types of pests can do untold damage to your home, especially your insulation.
5. YOUR UPSTAIRS BEDROOMS ARE DRAFTY
A sure sign that you’ve got attic insulation problems is a drafty upstairs bedroom, especially if your home’s downstairs tends to stay nice and warm. Since heat rises, a well-insulated attic should be keeping your home's heat inside. If your attic isn’t performing properly, it’s allowing heat to escape through your roof, which can lead to ice dams and even roof damage over time. It will also take a toll on your home’s heating and cooling costs. Uneven heating throughout your home can also be a sign of poor or inadequate attic insulation.
6. YOU LIVE IN AN OLDER HOME
Insulation manufacturing has progressed by leaps and bounds over the years, and every year, it gets better. If you live in an older home, there’s a good chance your attic insulation hasn’t been updated in several decades. New attic insulation will feel like a revelation between the increased home comfort and lower monthly energy costs you’ll experience. Ask an insulation contractor to check out your attic if you suspect it’s time for a change.
GET A FREE QUOTE ON HOME INSULATION SERVICES
If you’re paying more than you should be on your monthly heating costs this winter, call The Construction Group in Woodbury to schedule your home insulation services today at 651-731-5857. Or contact us online to find out about spray foam insulation installation and more.