5 Signs Your Delray Beach Home Needs New Insulation

Installing quality insulation in your Delray Beach, FL home establishes a formidable barrier between the indoor and outdoor environments. Quality insulation makes it both cheaper and easier to create and maintain comfortable living conditions. It adds value to homes, reduces stress on HVAC systems, and staves off humidity issues. But like all building materials, insulation has a finite lifespan. Age, compression, and moisture gradually decrease insulation's insulating abilities. The following are five signs that you need new insulation now.

1. Uneven Temperatures from Room to Room

Your central HVAC system should establish a single, uniform temperature throughout your home. Your heat pump, AC, or other HVAC equipment should run until every room reaches roughly the same temperature. If you have noticeable hot and cold spots throughout your home, this may be a sign of insufficient insulation. Uneven temperatures can indicate warm or cold drafts, excessive solar heat gains, or other weaknesses in your home envelope.

2. Drafts or Air Leaks Around Doors and Windows

Drafts and air leaks around doors and windows are a sure sign of insufficient insulation. Installing weatherstripping and other insulating materials in these areas will keep outdoor heat, humidity, and cold air out.

3. Rising Energy Bills Despite Normal Usage

Is your home energy bill on the rise? This could be a sign that your current insulation is failing, especially if you haven't added new household members, electronics, or appliances.

Insulating materials can lose up to 40% of their insulating capacity when wet. Insulation can take on moisture due to roof leaks, warped or cracked siding, and other structural building damage.

However, in Delray Beach, the constantly high humidity outside your home means that moisture will invariably find its way into your insulation. Once saturated, insulation falls prey to compression and loses even more of its R-value. While some insulating materials can last up to 100 years, homeowners in Delray Beach should consider adding to or replacing their insulation every 15 to 20 years instead.

4. More Noise Entering from Outside

Increased noise pollution means that your insulation isn't doing its job. If the noise from passing cars and outside conversations is increasingly finding its way into your home, your insulation may be wet and compressed. You might have gaps in your current insulation or other air leaks.

5. Pest or Mold Issues in Attics or Walls

If you have wet, sagging, and discolored insulation in your attic or visible areas, there's a good chance that the insulation behind your walls looks that way, too. Moldy insulation can fill your home with pervasive musty odors. It can also take a serious toll on your home's indoor air quality (IAQ).

Moldy insulation can trigger many unpleasant IAQ-related symptoms, including:

Itchy, watery eyes
Sneezing, wheezing, and coughing
Recurring headaches
Poor sleep quality
Skin rashes or general skin irritation

Moldy insulation can have a detrimental impact on the health of family members with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions. Replacing old, moldering insulation will give them relief. It's also a great way to support the health of aging adults, infants, and people with chronic illnesses.

Pest infestations can be just as detrimental to residents' health as mold. With the droppings, exoskeletons, food, and other detritus that pests leave behind, pest infestations can also trigger mold problems. If you hear scurrying or clawing sounds in your walls, find droppings, or locate nesting materials, consider replacing your insulation.

Mice, rats, and other rodents leave potent pheromones in their nesting areas and other spaces. These oily residues act as calling cards that attract additional pests. If you've been battling a stubborn infestation, getting rid of pheromone-infused insulation could be an important step in your pest treatment plan.

Why You Should Use iFoam for Residential Insulation Services

iFoam proudly serves Delray Beach and the surrounding cities. We offer comprehensive insulation services and a variety of insulation types. Regardless of your goals, challenges, or budget, we have solutions to suit.

Our clients can choose from high-quality BATT and spray foam insulation. We also provide air sealing services, crawl space encapsulation, blown-in cellulose, and blown-in netting insulation. We leverage the latest and most cutting-edge tools to deliver consistently excellent results. We also confidently stand behind our work with solid guarantees.