Traditional home insulation, like fiberglass and cellulose, deteriorates over time. This can lead to a variety of issues, including higher energy bills, uneven temperatures in different rooms, and pests.
Additionally, older insulation material can contain asbestos, which is harmful if disturbed. This can lead to a variety of health issues, including lung disease and cancer. Talking with a professional Perth Insulation Remover will be a good choice.
Increased Energy Bills
Insulation plays a crucial role in your home’s energy efficiency and comfort. However, it will lose its effectiveness over time and should be replaced if it starts showing signs of degradation. In addition, old insulation can harbor hazards that pose health risks for homeowners. Old fiberglass insulation, vermiculite, and urea-formaldehyde foam, for example, can release harmful mycotoxins into the air and clog moisture in the walls of your home.
Insulations like cellulose, blown-in cellulose, spray foam, and rock wool are durable materials that last up to 80 years under optimal conditions. However, if they are exposed to excessive moisture or pests and begin to degrade, their lifespans may be significantly reduced. This may lead to higher energy bills or other issues in your home.
If you notice an increase in your home’s energy bills, if certain areas of your home stay warmer or cooler than others, or if you suspect rodents or insects have taken up residence in your insulation, these are all indications that it is time to replace it. Having your home properly inspected by an expert is the best way to know when your insulation needs to be replaced.
In addition, having new insulation installed in your home will help reduce the energy costs of heating and cooling by trapping cold air inside and hot air outside. This will result in significant savings on your energy bills over the long term.
Allergies
If you’ve been sneezing, sniffling, and wheezing lately, it may be time to replace your insulation. Old fiberglass and cellulose insulation attracts airborne allergens like pollen, dust mite spores, and mold spores, and keeps them around your home, exacerbating allergy and asthma symptoms for your family members.
These contaminants are also a magnet for rodent waste, which can trigger allergic reactions, spread bacteria, and carry diseases that are dangerous to human health. Moisture can also cause a musty smell, and mold and mildew can grow in damp insulation, causing severe damage to your walls and floors.
In addition, older materials such as asbestos and vermiculite contain harmful substances that are dangerous to your family’s health. These products can release airborne irritants such as formaldehyde and lead to itchy eyes, nose, and throat, and a skin rash with long-term exposure.
The good news is that modern blown-in foam insulation doesn’t harbor these contaminants. Instead, it blocks allergens, pests, and moisture from entering your home, and provides a healthier alternative that won’t make you or your loved ones sick. This can help prevent a range of issues, including heat exhaustion, headaches, fatigue, and respiratory irritation. It can also lower humidity levels and increase ventilation, improving your overall quality of life at home. Having high-quality insulation installed by an experienced company can ensure you’re getting the most out of your home’s value and comfort.
Fire Hazards
Many older homes still have old insulation materials like fiberglass or cellulose that are a fire hazard. As these materials sag or shift over time, they become more flammable, which can cause serious damage to your home, as well as putting you in harm’s way. Cellulose and fiberglass are both combustible, but they are typically treated with fire-retardant chemicals to prevent them from smoldering or burning when exposed to flames or high temperatures. These chemicals may break down over time, which could result in the insulation melting and releasing toxic gases into your home.
If you have old attic insulation, it’s important to inspect and replace it if needed. You can often spot a fire hazard by noticing signs of discoloration or crumbling, which can indicate that the material is breaking down and releasing harmful particles into the air. Some older insulation is even contaminated with asbestos, which can be very dangerous if it’s disturbed during renovation or removal.
Older insulation can also harbor mold spores and dust mites, which can trigger allergies and asthma flare-ups in those who suffer from these conditions. These contaminants are trapped in the insulation and circulated throughout the house, causing respiratory issues. Upgrading your insulation to a more modern option will eliminate these health concerns and improve indoor air quality.
Pests
As the insulation material in attics and crawl spaces degrades, pests become more entangled in it. Rodents, bats, birds, raccoons, squirrels, and insects can nest or burrow in old insulation, leaving behind droppings, urine, and other waste. This contaminates the insulation and can carry pathogens into the air of homes. These pathogens can lead to diseases such as hantavirus, leptospirosis, and Salmonella.
If you notice signs of contaminated insulation, like visible drops or smells, it’s time to have your insulation replaced. Contaminated insulation also doesn’t do its job of regulating the temperature in your home, resulting in higher energy bills.
The best way to prevent the problems that result from old and outdated insulation is regular inspections of attics and crawl spaces by a professional. These inspections remove any nesting areas for pests and help keep your home healthy and safe. By replacing contaminated insulation with modern, pest-resistant options, you can improve your home’s comfort, health, and savings. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of having your old insulation removed and replaced by a trained team of professionals. We can provide you with new insulation that will improve your comfort and save you money for years to come.