The great thing about residential insulation is it keeps your indoor air temperature at a comfortable level all year long. However, if there are problems with the condition of the insulation material, it can be difficult to tell simply because it’s unseen—that is, unless you are vigilant of the signs present on the outside of the walls. For this reason, the saying “out of sight, out of mind” can indeed pertain to areas of your home—like in the case of insulation being covered with drywall or placed up in the attic where you rarely go.
It could be years before you need to replace the insulation, but keep up on its condition with regular expert inspections and watch for hidden issues that may befall insulation in Little Rock, AR, as problems may lead to costly home repairs.
Pest infestations
Whether it’s winter or summer, critters will seek shelter from the elements wherever they can, which includes the inside of your home. The kicker is that creatures—like rats, mice, birds and insects—will almost always take up residence rent-free in unseen areas of your home. Since the attic is typically closed off from the rest of the house, pests can move in unnoticed and nest until the unfavorable weather has passed. This is a serious problem, as pests will destroy your attic insulation to build their nests, urinate and leave feces everywhere, and can even die only to emanate the smell of decay throughout your living spaces.
Mold growth
One of the top reasons for needing replacement insulation in Little Rock, AR is because mold has taken over. Especially on fiberglass insulation materials, mold growth is often caused when leaks in roofs go undetected, and therefore unfixed. The thing about many types of older insulation is that once they get damp, they cannot be dried out and reused, or just the wet part removed. The entire section will need to be replaced as soon as possible to avoid mold overgrowth.
Wood rot
By the same token, a leaky roof or ceiling dripping into an attic or another part of your house can spell disaster for wood beams and panels. While moisture ruins wall and attic insulation, that same moisture can spread to the wood supports of a building’s structure. That being said, although saturated insulation materials will need a full replacement, it will cost you even more to replace sections of wood.
Air leaks
Another problem you are likely to be unable to see are air leaks. Air leaks are areas where outside air can get into your home, causing cold room drafts in winter and hot spots during the warmer months. This can lead to higher energy bills, overworked HVAC systems and living in an uncomfortable indoor environment. Your wall or attic insulation could be to blame, so get it inspected for quality and have your home checked for air leaks.
For more information about new insulation in Little Rock, AR, the insulation installation experts at Harris Insulation are the folks to speak with. Contact us for all your home and commercial building insulation needs today!