How Often Should I Replace My Home’s Insulation?

Just having walls and a roof is not enough to separate the indoor air from the harsh, outdoor air. That’s where insulation comes in.

Insulation is essential for keeping warm air where it needs to be. In summer, that means keeping the warm air outside of your home. In winter, it means keeping the warm air inside the home.

Not only will insulation help you feel more comfortable, but it will also help keep your home cool or warm—meaning less money spent on running the HVAC system.

However, insulation isn’t perfect. It can deteriorate over time and might need to be reapplied every few years. Since insulation stays out of sight and out of mind, many homeowners don’t realize that it might be the reason for their rising heating or cooling bill.

In this post, we’ll go over how often insulation should be replaced and why you should get help finding the right type and amount of insulation.

How Often Should Insulation Be Replaced?

Depending on the type of insulation, it can last anywhere from 20 to 80 years. Unless your home is decades old, you shouldn’t have to worry about replacing insulation for that reason.

Older homes often will need their insulation replaced, simply because the quality of insulation has so greatly improved since the 1970s.

However, long before the insulation expires, a new batch of insulation will likely settle and lose some of its effectiveness. That requires having an expert come in, measure the R-value, and reapply insulation where necessary. The rule of thumb is to have the insulation inspected once a year.

Another instance where insulation will need to be replaced early is in the event of a leak. If a leaking roof allows moisture to enter the insulation, it can stay damp and create the conditions for mold—especially in the humid attic space. In this case, replacing insulation is a requirement to avoid indoor air quality hazards.

How Much Insulation is Needed?

There are many types of insulation available using a range of materials from concrete to fiberglass. What’s most important, however, is the R-value per inch. The R-value is the measurement of how well the material can resist the flow of heat. Every type of insulation should be labeled with its R-value.

Some areas of the home are going to require a higher R-value. On the other hand, some areas might not need a high R-value as much as they simply need another layer of insulation. Unless you’re a member of a qualified HVAC company in Miami, it can be difficult to know just how much insulation is necessary for a given space. If you end up using too much, you can actually waste money. Likewise, if you don’t use enough, you won’t be able to get the full value of the insulation.

If your bills are rising and your home feels warmer than usual, it might be time to inspect your insulation. Contact Air On Demand to schedule a service. Trust Us to Keep You Comfortable!