How to Know if Your House is Under Insulated?

Angry about high energy bills

Reitzel Insulation is a professional insulation contractor that provides quality spray foam and blown-in insulation service, insulation removal, and fireproofing services.  We usually asked a variety of insulation questions from our customers. Our customers typically want to know how much insulation is needed, and how do you know if your home or business is under-insulated?


HERE ARE THE SIGNS THAT YOUR HOME IS UNDER INSULATED

Without the right insulation, the heated or cooled air will escape through the attic and walls. When trying to figure out if this is happening,  you should look out for these signs:


High Energy Bills 

If you have received higher than usual heating bills, this can be a sign that your insulation is failing. When your home is not adequately insulated, the furnace needs to use more gas or energy to keep your home comfortable. This could be a sign of your blown-in insulation settling in your attic and/or walls. This will make your home insulation less effective and possibly leading to areas that are not protected from cold temperatures.


Uneven Temperatures

If you notice that each room has a different temperature, this is a clue that your house is under-insulated.  If any areas are under-insulated, they will feel hot in the summer and cold to the touch in the winter.  The touch test will reveal what is going on behind your walls, ceilings, and floors.  Sadly, the heat and cool air will escape almost anywhere; there is no insulation to stop its path.


Moisture in the Attic  

Just as poor insulation lets the heat out of your home, it also can let water in. Sometimes summers intense attic heat can cause moisture to condense. Water damage can cause many costly problems down the road, including mold issues.


Ice Dams 

If you see ice dams forming, this is because of the heat rising from your poorly-insulated home. What happens is that it melts the bottom layer of snow off of your roof. Then the melted water drips down towards your gutters and may begin to freeze. This forms extra-large icicles, which are called ice damming. This can cause mayhem for your gutters and roof. If these large icicles fall, they can quickly turn into a safety hazard for anyone below.


Frozen Pipes

If you notice frozen pipes, this could be a sign of insulation problems. Poorly insulated exterior walls are known to cause frozen pipes. The downside to frozen pipes is that they can burst, causing lots of damage. 


Old and Dirty Insulation 

Old insulation can get dirty and worn out over time, causing air and moisture leaks. This can create an opportunity for rodent infestation, cracks, mold, and dust. It is highly recommended to add a fresh layer of insulation.  


If you have noticed any of the above conditions, we recommend that you investigate how your home was built structurally. Measure the thickness of any insulation that you find in the ceilings and walls. Look for air leaks from holes made in your plumbing, windows, electrical outlets, and baseboards. 

If you determine that you require additional insulation, there are many different types of materials for you to consider. We recommend that you seal air leaks is to use caulking or weather stripping in each of the areas before deciding on how much additional insulation you need to add.


CALL REITZEL INSULATION FOR A FREE HOME ESTIMATE 

For complex insulation jobs, contact Reitzel Insulation’s certified insulation contractors at 226-241-9991 today for more information. We service all over Southwestern Ontario, including Kitchener-Waterloo, Burlington, and surrounding areas are known for our professionalism, our 5-year workmanship warranty, and our second-to-none project clean-up procedures.

https://reitzel.ca/


Location: Waterloo, ON, Canada

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