How Often Should Attic Insulation Be Replaced

How often should insulation be replaced.

How often should attic insulation be replaced.

In older homes there s a chance your attic insulation has never been replaced and could be badly degraded. Older homes including any and all homes built in the 1970s or earlier should definitely get their insulation replaced especially if the insulation hasn t been replaced since the 1970s. A good rule of thumb is that standard insulation should be inspected to see if it needs to be replaced at least every fifteen years. If a crawl space or attic insulation has become ineffective or hasn t been installed at all it can cause uncomfortable or even dangerous consequences on indoor air quality and temperature regulation.

If you ve never had your insulation checked out before it s time to get it done. Older homes often will need their insulation replaced simply because the quality of insulation has so greatly improved. Insulation should also be replaced in some cases sooner than 15 years if it is no longer doing its job properly. A typical insulation project can range from 1 500 to 5 000 depending on the size of the project.

Unless your home is decades old you shouldn t have to worry about replacing insulation for that reason. Mildew and mold can affect insulation materials and indicate that excessive moisture has been or is still in the area which will severely affect the r value of the insulation. Depending on the type of insulation it can last anywhere from 20 to 80 years. There are various factors that affect how often a home s attic insulation should be replaced.

If your roof has had to be repaired or replaced because of leaks you should definitely make sure to have an attic insulation inspection. We typically work through and seal the attic bypasses with the existing insulation in place olson says. You ll know it needs to be replaced if there are insulation leaks or if it is peeling from the walls. If you don t know how old your attic insulation is there are a few signs that can.

How often should attic insulation be replaced. Signs my insulation needs to be replaced. Since the 1970s insulation manufacturers have greatly improved their products to keep more heat or cold in and save you more energy. Insulation begins to degrade in quality and effectiveness at around the 15 year mark.

Believe it or not there are situations in a home when you should remove the old attic insulation before adding more over the existing and in this short video.