Remove the outlet cover and shine a flashlight into the crack around the outlet box. You should be able to see if there is insulation in the wall and possibly how thick it is. Pull out a small amount of insulation if needed to help determine the type of insulation.
One sign of good insulation is having even temperatures throughout your home. If different rooms have different temperatures – say, you freeze in the kitchen but feel too warm in your living room – that's a clear sign your house is under-insulated.
To check the level of your wall insulation, consider purchasing an infrared thermometer. The device will detect any poor insulation and alert you of any specific problem area.
You can check insulation in walls by removing an outlet cover or light switch to take a quick peek inside the wall to determine if there is any existing insulation in there. Another option is to drill a hole somewhere inconspicuous, like in the closet or under the baseboard, to take a look.
Check Behind a Baseboard
Baseboards cover up a gap at the bottom of your drywall. Since they're just nailed in place, you can check to see if there's insulation in the walls by prying a nail out and looking for foam or wool. If you see insulation materials, you're good to go.
Sometimes, it's easy to spot the signs of insulation gone bad. If you’re comfortable with assessing the situation, take a visual inspection of your insulation. Signs such as discoloration, black or gray spots, and rotting wood indicate mold.
Either read the R-value printed on the batts of your existing insulation or use a measuring tape to measure the depth of the insulation (inches). Next, use the table below to calculate the R-value of your insulation by multiplying the measured depth with the number provided below.
An estimated 25% of all heat loss occurs through the attic or roof of a home. Cracks or holes in an attic, along with improperly placed vents, allow for significant amounts of heat loss through the attic space. In addition, improper ventilation in attics leads to even more heat escaping.
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. That's when mold starts to grow.
Missing insulation allows either heat or cold to infiltrate, which shows as hot or cold spots on your walls or ceiling when viewed by a thermal camera. You can easily detect areas of missing insulation by walking around your house with a thermal imager and looking for temperature differences.
Most forms of insulation can last for decades under ideal conditions. However, various issues inside your home can make retrofitting or replacement necessary much sooner. Some homes have the original insulation for upwards of a century, while others may require upgraded insulation in as little as 15 years.
This article on how to remove spray foam insulation will guide you on removing spray foam mold. Clean the area with bleach and water to remove mold spores. Then, keep the area dry to prevent moisture buildup again.
Here's another great way to tell if your home is well insulated. Use your hand to check the temperature of interior walls, floors, and ceilings. If they feel warm and dry, you are in good shape. If they feel cold or damp, then you have an insulation problem.
The best, and most common, method for adding insulation without removing drywall is through the drill-and-fill method. Using the drill-and-fill method, the insulation is blown directly into a closed wall through small holes drilled into the wall.
How heat escapes from your home. If you're asking yourself Why is my house so cold even with the heating on? or Why is my house not staying warm?, the truth is that air leaks—along with insufficient insulation—cause heat to escape directly from your home.
Your house may not be heating up due to several reasons: a malfunctioning thermostat, issues with your heating system, blocked air filters, or inadequate insulation. It's important to check these components to identify and resolve the problem.
Let's liven up the whole room by hanging a stunning tapestry on the wall. If you hang it on an outer wall you'll gain instant insulation—even a nice blanket or secondhand rug can add pizzazz and warmth to your living space. You can further insulate a room by strategically placing a bookcase along an outside wall.