Everyone wants a home that is comfortable and healthy, as well as one that doesn’t cost a fortune to heat and cool.   Depending on the project, foam insulation can reduce the tons of cooling required by 50% and BTU’s required to heat your home by 2/3!

Attic insulation is one of the major ways that homeowners can control energy costs while keeping their families comfortable.

Chances are that your attic has some type of insulation, but I’m betting that you have no idea how old that insulation is.

How long does insulation last anyway? Does it depend on the type of material that was used? How often should I replace the insulation in my attic?

What Type of Insulation You Have Matters

The lifespan of your attic’s insulation will depend on several factors, the first of which is the type of material that was used.

Common types of attic insulation include:

• This is the pink (occasionally yellow) stuff that looks like spun cotton. Fiberglass has been a popular choice for decades, easy to install, isn’t very expensive. Most fiberglass insulation, however, becomes damaged at some point due to insects, animals, or water damage. If your insulation was installed more than 15 years ago, you should have a home inspection to see if it is still viable. It also is problematic that every contractor who has done work in your attic has moved the fiberglass and not replaced it.
• This is typically ground-up paper products. The estimated lifespan of cellulose is 20 to 30 years. When using any fiberous insulation, the first step is to air seal all the penetrations in the floor of the attic, at the plates and any by passes. Cellulose is eco-friendly and it is more effective at stopping air flow, cellulose is frequently added as a supplementary insulation type, usually being added on top of or beneath other types of insulation.
• Mineral Wool. This is another popular type of home insulation and its lifespan will vary depending on what type of wool this is (slag wool, rock wool, glass wool, etc.) Most experts will tell you that mineral wool will last for at least 20 years, however, water leaks or animal/insect infestation will dramatically reduce its lifespan.
• Spray Foam. One of the most durable, reliable, and effective forms of home insulation, spray foam can last the life of the home (or perhaps longer!) Spray foam does not hold moisture, is super mildew resistant, insects, and animals! Spray foam will never need replacing since it does not degrade or wear out.

What type of insulation your home has often depends on the age of your home. If you aren’t sure what type of insulation you might have and/or what condition it’s in, you should contact the experts at Chicago Green.

Signs Your Insulation Is Failing

On occasion, you don’t even need someone to inspect your home to know that the insulation is no longer doing the job.

1. You have a hard time getting your home to just the right temperature and then keeping it comfortable. The house is always too hot or too cold.
2. The temperature in your home changes constantly.
3. You are dealing with frequent moisture issues, such as mold, condensation, or frequent leaks.
4. The house feels drafty.
5. Family members suffer from allergies or illnesses that seem to get worse when they are at home. (Damaged, aging or degrading insulation is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and other allergens)
6. One or two rooms have drafty conditions or are very hot (or very cold)
7. Your energy bills increase every year (KW or Therms, not just dollars spent)
8. You are having problems with insects, raccoons, mice, rats, etc.
9. You can see that at least part of the current insulation is wet, breaking down, thin, etc.

If your home is experiencing any of the above issues, it makes an inspection and replacement of your failing insulation a more urgent need.