Why Insulation Isn’t Always the Answer

Man inspects installed insulation at home | Attic Insulation & Air Sealing by First Defense Insulation

What is insulation?

Insulation is the material used to ensure maximum home efficiency by reducing heat flow. In relation to the comfort of your home, thermal insulation increases energy efficiency and reduces heat loss or gain by acting as a barrier between areas that are significantly different in temperature.?

 

Why isn’t insulation always the answer?

While insulation is truly vital to maintaining the temperatures and energy efficiency in your home, there could be other problem areas to check before assuming you need to completely re-insulate. If you?re experiencing one area in the home that has suffering airflow or the opposite, much colder than the rest of the home, there are a few things you can check!

 

What else should be considered?

  1. Air duct issues. Uninsulated, leaky ductwork will cause your HVAC system to be inefficient and will negatively impact your home’s comfort, especially if the ducts are in the attic.
  2. Sealing issues. Gaps and cracks in your home are an unavoidable part of homeownership. There are several reasons why these spaces form, but every home is subject to the airflow that can occur through these areas. Without proper air sealing, this air leakage will negatively impact your home’s comfort.
  3. Damage to your roof. Ice dams are a common side effect of poor attic insulation during the winter, and icicles on the edge of your roof are an obvious warning sign. Ice dams can lead to damage to shingles and gutters, as well as eventually cause roof leaks and water damage.

Ultimately, a home care report is necessary before making assumptions about the discomfort of your home. First Defense Insulation offers attic insulation in Houston with free home care consultations to assure you that we turn over every rock to assess any reason to be causing discomfort!?