The attic is one of the most important parts of your home. Attics are often used for storage, but they also provide insulation that helps keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Attics that have poor insulation will suffer from a number of problems that can lead to decreased comfort levels and increased energy bills. But how can you find out if your attic has insulation issues?
We are going to take a look at 6 signs that your attic insulation might not be up to par and could be the cause of some large issues that your home is facing.
Critters are a common sight in your household
Attics that are not properly insulated will often be a warm and inviting place for insects and other pests to set up camp. Not only is this unsightly, but it can also lead to health problems as these critters invade your home.
Bugs and birds can set up full nests in an attic and sometimes it can be months or years before you notice. These pesky animals can create larger issues for your house including structural damage and full-on invasions of your home.
Removing birds or larger animals can be done fairly easily by calling your local animal control. Smaller insects can be a much larger problem due to needing experienced exterminators to find the source of the infestation and tracking down to see if other areas of your home have also been infected.
Spending extra money to pay to have these problems removed and even needing to leave your house for a couple of days is the worst-case scenario if the insulation in your attic isn’t properly taken care of or ignored.
Rising Energy Bills
One of the most common signs that you have insulation problems is if your energy bills start to rise for no reason. Attics that are well-insulated will help keep the air in your home at a consistent temperature, which means that you won’t need to use as much energy to cool or heat your house.
If you’ve been noticing an increase in your monthly energy bill, it’s likely because your attic isn’t doing its job properly. This can be a costly problem to fix and can last for years if not addressed. Your attic is key to energy efficiency.
Bad Smell
If your attic suddenly smells bad or starts to create a strong smell over time, it’s an issue you want to look into. Attics can be a perfect place for mold growth and mildew to thrive as they often don’t receive much air circulation or sunlight.
Appliances such as water heaters, AC units, and furnaces are usually located in the basement of homes which means it’s also common for these areas to develop an unpleasant smell due to standing water or malfunctioning equipment. Attic insulation will help get rid of moisture before it becomes a problem inside your home but sometimes this isn’t enough when there are other issues with too little airflow into the attic space itself.
Odor-causing bacteria can thrive on less than optimal conditions so keeping an eye out for any kind of bad smell in your attic is a good way to tell if you might need some additional insulation.
Ice Dams
One of the most obvious signs that you have insulation problems is when you start seeing ice dams on your roof.
Ice dams are created when melting snow accumulates on the roof and refreezes along the eaves of the roof. This can create a damming effect which will prevent water from draining off the roof properly and can lead to water damage inside your home.
The water damage can cost thousands of dollars to fix and can cause structural damage to your roof. Attics that are insulated well will help keep the cold air in your home from reaching to roof, which means less ice build-up when temperatures fluctuate between warm and cold.
Drafts in the Upstairs of Your Home
If you’re feeling a cold breeze in the upstairs of your home, it’s likely that your attic isn’t properly insulated. Attics are one of the most common places for air leaks to occur in a home.
This is because they are often unfinished spaces with few barriers between the inside and outside of your house. These drafts can make your home uncomfortable to live in and can lead to higher energy bills.
Fixing drafts is a relatively easy process but can be time-consuming if there are multiple areas where the air is escaping. Sealing up these cracks and gaps will help keep the warm air in during the winter months and the cool air in during the summer months.
Your Pipes Freeze More Easily
If you’re finding that your pipes are freezing more easily than they used to, it’s a sign that you might need more insulation in your attic.
Insulated attics help keep the heat in your home which means that the cold air won’t be able to get down to the level of your pipes. This can help prevent them from freezing and bursting during the winter months.
Ignoring these issues can lead to bigger and more expensive problems including pipes bursting when they expand in the warm weather and causing flooding in your home. This is one of the most expensive problems that poorly insulated attics can cause and is an example of how leaving your attic insulations problems alone for too long can have a chain reaction on your entire home.
If you’re noticing any of these signs, it’s important to address the problem as soon as possible. Attic insulation is an important part of keeping your home comfortable and energy-efficient.
But knowing the right contact to come take a look at your attic and see what can be done to fix the problems means looking for the experts in attic insulation.
Look no further then T.Simpson Roofing
T.Simpson Roofing is the Only Call You Need to Make for Attic Insulation Problems
With over 25 years of experience, T.Simpson Roofing has help fix thousands of attics and solved air issues that have plagued homes.
Our team can help provide you with the attic insulation solutions that you need. We provide the following services to help get your attic back in tip top shape:
- Attic Inspection
- Insulation Installation
- Attic ventilation adjustments
- Attic moisture control
- Roof sealing
- Ice dam removal
We pride ourselves on our outstanding customers service and always provide our clients with the most competitive quotes on the market.
T.Simpson holds an A+ rating with Better Business Bureau and Master Elite™ Contractor status — an exclusive industry designation only held by 2% of North American roofing contractors.
Attic insulation problems have a domino effect inside your home which makes fixing them an important part of keeping your home comfortable and energy-efficient in the long run.
If you’re noticing any signs that there might be issues, contact T.Simpson Roofing right away or fill out our FREE quote form here.
Get started with attic insulation solutions for your home today with T.Simpson Roofing.
