You can assess if your home insulation needs replacement by observing signs like increased energy bills, uneven indoor temperatures, drafts, and visible damage to insulation materials. Additionally, if your insulation is over 10-15 years old or has been exposed to moisture or pests, it may require replacement.
Signs It's Time to Replace Insulation
Age 👴🏼 – Insulation is typically pretty hearty. For most homes, it can last for 20-80 years! That being said, like all things, insulation tends to wear down over time.
Some ceiling insulation can lose its effectiveness as it settles and compacts over time, so check whether it needs to be topped up or replaced altogether. If the height of your existing ceiling insulation is less than 50mm thick it should be topped up.
However, insulation can start falling from fiberglass batts after 15 to 20 years, so if your insulation was installed in batts well over a decade ago, it might be time for an inspection or a home energy audit.
In many cases you can install new insulation over old. Your old insulation may not be very effective on its own any more, but it probably has some insulating power. And every bit counts!
The average U.S. homeowner spends about $1,852 to install insulation. Depending on the type of insulation, square footage, site location, and material, you might spend anywhere from $498 to $4,500. Insulation can keep your home cozy and warm on long winter nights or cool and comfortable on hot sunny days.
It is possible to over-insulate your house so much that it can't breathe. The whole point of home insulation is to tightly seal your home's interior. But if it becomes too tightly sealed with too many layers of insulation, moisture can get trapped inside those layers.
The Big Question: Do I Need to Remove Old Insulation Before Installing New? In the majority of cases, removal of old insulation is NOT necessary before adding new.
Mold does not grow directly on insulation because the insulation is not its food source. However, when your attic or crawl space is attacked, then it will spread to the insulation. And as such, it will start to grow on the insulation.
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.
The short answer is yes, upgrading insulation can increase the resale value of a home.
Fiberglass batt is considered to be the best insulation for attics. Compared to other insulation materials, it is the cheapest and easiest to install.
In most homes, loose-fill insulation can survive anywhere from 80 to 100 years before needing replacement, provided that it is not damaged.
As a general rule, insulation should be replaced or retrofitted every 15 to 20 years. However, it may need replacing or retrofitting sooner depending on the type of insulation installed, the R rating of the original insulation, compression and movement over time, and whether any damage has occurred.
Unfortunately, the majority of homes built 50 years ago were not insulated at all. It is important to be aware of these insulation issues if your home is 50+ years old. Replacement (or new installation) may be necessary if your home is drafty, if you have high utility bills, etc.
Best Time of Year to Buy Insulation
In this case, the spring is the best time, because you will also start to see savings in the summer months. The same is true for warmer climates, just different times of year because you'll want the job finished before the heat sets in.
In many cases you can add new insulation on top of old insulation, unless the old insulation is wet, mouldy, or vermiculite. If the old insulation is dry but appears to have previously been wet, you should look for the cause and repair the problem.
Many older homes have less insulation than homes built today, but even adding insulation to a newer home can pay for itself within a few years. To determine whether you should add insulation, you first need to find out how much insulation you already have in your home and where it is.