The Costly Effects of a Poorly Insulated Attic
One of the best ways to make your home comfortable for habitation is by properly insulating your attic. Doing this will help avoid many attic-induced home issues, such as high electricity bills, draft increases, and other health challenges.
That’s why hiring a professional insulation contractor is crucial to ensure your attic is adequately insulated, as it is cost-effective in the long run!
Potential Consequences of Bad Attic Insulation
You may face some of the challenges described below when you have a poorly insulated attic:
1. Increased Energy Bills
When your home is poorly insulated, the heating and cooling systems work more than usual to replace lost air due to temperature fluctuations, which leads to more energy bills for you.
To reduce this, you should work with a trusted contractor to insulate your attic to help regulate the temperature within your home in all seasons. Installing new insulation or upgrading your old insulation can help maximize your home’s energy efficiency. Insulation with a higher R-value, or thermal resistance, will have greater insulating effectiveness.
In addition to insulation, you’ll want to check your attic ventilation. If your attic is poorly ventilated, then your insulation isn’t going to help much. The air in your attic will get too hot.
2. Decrease in Property Value
Home buyers are beginning to take an interest in the energy efficiency of the homes they are considering. While newer buildings must adhere to strict guidelines, older homes may only comply with local energy laws with sufficient attic insulation.
If ever put on the market, homes with inadequate attic insulation may significantly drop property value. So, If you're planning to sell your home, weigh the price of installing insulation against the value you'll lose if you don't do it.
3. Easy Loss of Cool Air
Because cool air moves towards warmer locations, the cold air from an air conditioning system is quickly lost when your attic is poorly insulated.
With appropriate attic insulation, homeowners will avoid an uphill battle throughout the summer, trying to replace invading warm air in the central portions of the home with cold, which can result in high energy costs in the long term.
4. Respiratory Problems
When your attic is not adequately insulated, it could lead to chemical off-gassing. This is when the insulating agent evaporates and releases possibly dangerous substances into your home. Inhaling the particles for long periods can lead to significant respiratory problems, such as breathing difficulties.
Again, these chemicals can also irritate your skin, leading you to spend lots of money on hospital bills and treatments.
5. Rust & Beam Damage
In addition to endangering the health of those living in your house and increasing your health expenses, poor attic insulation can also compromise the structural integrity of your home. If your attic has inadequate insulation, it can lead to excessive moisture buildup.
Metal materials like nails and fasteners might rust due to this dampness. These metal pieces deteriorate more quickly when they rust and can cause colossal damage to your shingles and roof beams. Unfortunately, this leads to unwarranted home repairs you can avoid by upgrading your attic insulation.
6. Ice Dams
Ice dams result from a too-warm attic that melts snow, draining into gutters and refreezing. This cycle happens many times, which then causes a large build-up of ice and icicles on the edge of your roof. This build-up of ice is called an ice dam. Ice dams can damage your roof and gutters if left unchecked. They can also be hazardous if a chunk breaks off while someone is standing too close.
Removing ice dams can be dangerous, so it’s best left to the professionals. That way, you don’t accidentally damage your roof or gutters in the process, which can result in costly repairs. It is possible to avoid ice dams by better insulating your attic, sealing leaks, and installing a high-quality roofing ventilation system.
7. Mildew and Mold in the Attic
If your attic gets too warm and there is enough moisture in the air, then mold and mildew can grow. Mold and mildew can cause dangerous respiratory problems for home residents.
Mold can also damage your roof structure, which makes it more prone to further damage. Mold is also a very costly thing to eradicate, so using proper insulation is vital for keeping your home mold-free.
Find a Professional Contractor to Install Attic Insulation
We don’t recommend trying to tackle attic insulation upgrades on your own. Some insulation, like spray foam insulation, requires special equipment and a trained tech to operate. Plus, there are many safety requirements when working with insulation.
Mishandling fiberglass can lead to the material getting embedded in your skin or inhaled, which can lead to serious illness. If something goes wrong while installing attic insulation, then you are on the hook for repairs. This is a job best left to a professional.
When you need a professional contractor to install attic insulation, you should always check out a company for its reputation before hiring. Check for a professional website, positive online reviews, a good BBB rating, and good communication skills.
Professional Insulation Services in Minnesota
If you're getting signs that your Minnesota home is poorly insulated, now is the best time to get a professional contractor for assistance. At Roofers of Minnesota, we have a trained team that offers on-site assessment to detect issues with your attic.
For more information on our insulation services, schedule an appointment with our experts, and we will be glad to attend to your needs or speak directly with us at 612-205-4791.