Have you considered upgrading or replacing the insulation around your home? Many homeowners never think about protective materials. However, insulation is an important part of the home. There are a wide variety of choices, savings options…and potential problems associated with insulation. Here are the top three reasons you should consider taking on this project- particularly if you were already thinking about home improvement plans.
1. You Can Save Money (Even If You Already Have Insulation)
You may not think you need any more home insulation (especially if you've already gone through the insulation installation process once). However, the savings that come from adding on to the insulation materials you already have in place may be worth the additional work. Increasing the thickness of your materials, improving your R-value - the effectiveness rating of the material type - and covering up cracks or holes that may have been missed can all help keep heat and air inside. This will decrease the cost of your energy bills. For example, post-insulation project savings estimates are as high as 50% for major upgrades.
If you don't know much about the inner-workings of your house, you have even more of a reason to consider an upgrade. Unfortunately, missing ductwork, absent attic insulation, evidence of a lazy installation and more can be commonplace. These mistakes could be draining heat from your house. In these cases, successful projects can often pay for themselves within several years.
2. Insulation Needs Can and Do Change Over Time
Most homeowners don't think much about the ongoing needs of their home's padding. However, the truth is that both your house and your insulation are always changing. Two of the most common changes are wear and renovation.
The first change— natural wear and tear— occurs primarily with basic materials like weather stripping. Weather stripping should be occasionally replaced around doors and windows to prevent the striping from going bare (and thus, letting air inside). Pests and moisture can also cause material damage— in which case the materials will need to be repaired. The second type of change, renovation, requires adding proper insulation to new sections of the house. Remember that outer wall and inner wall needs tend to differ, so paying attention to these requirements is vital.
A brief warning: While you can't really have too much protection, you can certainly have incorrect or unnecessary types of insulation installed in the wrong places. Hire an experienced and recommended contractor for the job and do some research on your own as well.
3. These Projects Have Important Side Benefits
Checking and installing wall, attic or crawlspace materials gives contractors a very intimate view of a house and how it's working. That said, it's no surprise that these projects often uncover hidden issues with condensation, moisture, pest damage, wiring problems, or bad plumbing. However, perhaps the greatest additional benefit to insulation projects is gaining a better understanding of how the heat in your home travels as well as what you can do to help save money and prevent future damage.
