Should You Replace or Upgrade Your Old Insulation?
Attic insulation is crucial to temperature regulation in the home, even more so than doors and windows. An improperly insulated attic can leave rooms in your home sweltering during the summer, and frigid during the winter. Having a proper amount of attic insulation is important, but you may be wondering, is it more worth it to upgrade your old insulation, or to replace the whole thing?
The Role of Attic Insulation in Coastal Virginia Homes
The humid, coastal climate of the Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads area makes proper insulation an absolute necessity for homeowners. Without a good attic insulation job, bedrooms can become unbearably hot during the summer, and energy bills can skyrocket as your HVAC tries to compensate and get your home back down to a reasonable temperature. Proper attic insulation can ensure that your home is kept at a moderate, comfortable temperature, without much strain on your HVAC.
Signs Your Insulation Needs Attention
The first and most obvious sign that your insulation needs attention is when you notice that certain rooms have very uneven temperatures. They might be way too hot during the summer, or way too cold during the winter. Another common sign is high energy bills, often brought on by your HVAC’s attempt to compensate. If certain rooms feel drafty, or if you’re noticing increased moisture issues, this may be a result of insufficient insulation. If you go into the attic to examine the insulation and find it ripped up, tunnelled through, soiled with droppings, moldy, or compacted, all of these are signs that your attic insulation needs immediate attention.
Schedule a FREE Estimate
When to Replace Old Insulation
So your insulation needs attention. The big question is, do you need to replace it, or just upgrade it? Replacing your insulation is best for when your insulating material has been rendered unsafe, or has deteriorated to the point that it can’t be saved. You may need to replace old insulation in cases of severe water damage or mold growth, or with pest infestations that have contaminated the insulation. If your insulation is outdated and the materials are breaking down, or if it is made out of unsafe material like asbestos and old fiberglass, you need to replace the insulation. Replacing your attic insulation entirely can leave you with a cleaner environment and better energy savings.
When an Upgrade is Enough
Sometimes, a full attic insulation replacement isn’t necessary, and you may benefit more from just an upgrade of your current insulation job. If your insulation is in fair condition but not thick enough to meet modern R-value standards, or if your insulation has simply compacted and settled over time, you may just need an upgrade. Adding blown-in cellulose or spray foam insulation might be just what you need to revitalize your insulation and get it back up to code. Upgrading your insulation is a cost-effective, less labor-intensive way to get a quick boost in both home comfort and energy savings.
Cost Comparison: Replace vs. Upgrade
A full insulation replacement is almost always significantly more expensive than a simple upgrade, but your new insulation will be highly effective, reducing your energy bills, preventing costly HVAC repairs, and creating a healthier home environment.
Upgrading your insulation is more cost-effective in the short term, and may put a quick fix on your problems. However, depending on the age of your existing insulation, you may end up having to upgrade it again in a few years. Ultimately, whether or not a replacement or an upgrade is more worth it is determined by your situation and the condition of your attic insulation.
Why Professional Assessment Matters
When considering whether you need to replace or upgrade your attic insulation, it’s important to have an assessment done by an insulation professional. Experts can identify hidden problems like excess moisture, pest infestations, gaps in insulation coverage, etc.
Summit Environmental Solutions offers the best attic insulation services in the Hampton Roads area. Our team of experts will carefully inspect your attic, identify the condition of your insulation, and give you a recommendation on whether you would benefit more from an insulation replacement or an insulation upgrade.
Best Attic Insulation Company in Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads
Doing a full attic insulation replacement is usually best for dealing with damaged, contaminated, or otherwise unsafe insulation, while doing a quick upgrade works for insulation that is still serviceable. If you aren’t sure what solution is right for you, contact the experts at Summit Environmental Solutions today and our insulation technicians will help you determine what your next steps should be. Call Summit Environmental Solutions at 757-901-4455 for a professional insulation inspection in Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads.