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You may rarely think about your attic, but it’s a pivotal facet of temperature control in your home.

Whether you’ve lived in your current house for quite some time or just bought a new home, the attic insulation could be on its final legs or worse. If you noticed that your heating and cooling bills are steadily rising and you’ve checked all the usual culprits, it’s time to check on your insulation. Over time, insulation can degrade or become less effective. Rodents or other critters may have made nests inside your insulation, compromising it further.

Upgrading or replacing your attic insulation can improve energy efficiency, comfort, and indoor air quality. Let’s take a look at what attic insulation does and some signs you need to replace your insulation.

What Does Attic Insulation Do?

Attic insulation’s primary purpose is to help maintain your home’s temperature so your HVAC system doesn’t have to work so hard to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Heat rises, so warm air in the winter will escape through your roof without proper insulation.

In fact, around 40% of your home’s heat is lost through the attic. That’s why it’s so important for Minnesota residents to keep their homes insulated properly. Even the EPA says that homeowners can save an average of 15% of heating and cooling costs by adding or upgrading their insulation.

But attic insulation does more than keep warm or cool air inside your home where it belongs. While that is one of its primary functions, attic insulation can help keep clean air in your home and prevent polluted air from escaping into your home.

Attic insulation also helps prolong the life of your shingles and gutters by not allowing ice dams to form. With proper insulation, your HVAC system will last longer, and your home will stay at consistent temperatures.

5 Signs You Need More Attic Insulation

Old or poor insulation creates many problems if not dealt with, but what are the signs? Here’s when you should replace attic insulation!

1. Ice Dams

Ice dams indicate poor attic insulation, roof damage, or both! Ice dams form when your home’s heat rises to your attic and leaks out of your roof. As a result, the snow on your roof begins to melt but refreezes when it hits the edge of your roof and your eaves. This process repeats throughout winter until you have an unavoidable mass of ice hanging from your roof.

If you spot ice dams accumulating over winter, you should consider inspecting and repairing your roof or replacing your attic insulation as necessary. Preventing ice dams is important to your roof’s overall integrity.

2. Spiking Energy Bills

All that heat rising to your attic and causing ice dam formations present other issues; increased energy bills. Insulation's primary purpose is to hold controlled air in your home and shield it from the outside world. When insulation doesn’t do its job, heated or cool air escapes, which makes it harder for your HVAC system to regulate.

As your HVAC system works harder, the more your energy bills cost every month. So, if you notice your energy bills rising every month, it’s a good idea to check out your attic insulation.

3. Drafts Push Through Your Home

It never hurts to open up your doors and windows during perfect days to let freezing breezes draft through your home. However, if you feel a draft when your home is sealed up, it’s another telltale sign of poor attic insulation.

4. Your Attic Insulation Is Weathered & Worn

One of the most straightforward methods to determine the state of your attic insulation is to go right to the source and inspect it. If you notice your insulation is worn, weather, or sustains water damage like mold, consider replacing it as soon as possible.

5. Water Damage

If you have any prior leaks in your attic, then it’s possible your attic insulation has water damage. Water can deteriorate your insulation, making it less effective. A worse problem with water damage in your insulation is that mold can grow.

Your attic is a prime place for mold growth, which is very bad for your health. Breathing in mold spores can cause all kinds of health problems. Always call a professional roofing company if you suspect a roof leak, as they can help you determine the true extent of the damage, which can include your insulation.

Trinity Exteriors: Roofing & Attic Insulation Experts

When you need trusted attic insulation replacement, roof replacement, siding work, or anything that deals with your home’s exterior, call on Trinity Exteriors!

We’ve been around since 2007, ensuring our neighbors in Minnesota receive the best customer service and quality work on their roofs and siding. And we’d love to help you get the most out of your home’s insulation. We even take time out of our schedules to volunteer in our community.

Let us be the roofing company you trust. Request a free quote online or call us at 952-920-9520 today!