Does Your Insulation Need to Be Replaced
Published on February 17, 2021
Depending on your original installation condition and depending on the installed insulation material, there will come a time when your home insulation needs to be replaced. This would be a good time for a product like blown-in insulation – it’s a viable option for effectively upgrading and improving your home’s energy efficiency (as well as your indoor comfort).
Regardless of the product, home insulation (and especially attic insulation) will lose performance capacity over the years. It means that eventually, the material will have to be replaced with new insulation. Homeowners shopping around for an insulation company in Toronto would do well to choose a professional team that can accomplish all of the work – from start to finish.
Determining if your insulation needs to be replaced
In most residential homes, older insulation material will incrementally deteriorate year after year. It’s also not uncommon for homeowners to find that the original installation work was inadequate or simply poorly installed. Finally, there may be some other more severe issues to deal with – such as animal contamination, asbestos-laden materials, and even extensive mold growth.
When replacing home insulation, it’s important to start with an in-depth assessment of the space. This is especially true in an area like the attic, where the entire space is hidden from sight. Once the space is assessed, a good contractor will make recommendations for insulation replacement and any necessary repairs and retrofits. Naturally, everything should satisfy building codes.
For example, in an attic, a thorough inspection could reveal a number of issues that need to be remedied. Once discovered, these issues should be dealt with properly in order to prevent more damage from developing (and new problems from arising in the future). Here again, a reliable insulation contractor will be able to handle all of the repairs, retrofits, and required upgrades.
Inadequate Air Sealing
When a space like an attic (or basement) is poorly sealed, air leakage will compromise the installed insulation’s overall performance, regardless of the product installed.
Infiltration by Animals
Animals like squirrels, raccoons, and rodents can often infiltrate a space like an attic, creating their new home – this is a recipe for insulation materials to be permanently damaged.
Leaky Roof Damages
By any definition, a leaky roof can cause all types of problems – there’s potential for structural damage, insulation damage, and even mold to grow because of the air moisture.
Inadequate Insulation
Inadequate insulation material (or poorly installed material) isn’t doing its job during the winter and summer. Here, the insulation must be properly upgraded or completely replaced.
Installing Quality Blown-In Insulation in the Attic
When it comes to attic and roof insulation, blown-in cellulose is a highly recommended option. It’s well suited for this type of space because the cellulose material effectively fills up all the awkward spaces common in an attic. When professionally installed, the finished R-Values are satisfactory.
Blown-in cellulose is mold resistant and fire-resistant, thus making it an appropriate installation for the attic. It’s best to have a professional installation – this will ensure the best possible results with greater energy efficiency, reduced utility costs, and enhanced indoor comfort.
Straightforward installation
Blown insulation is a quick and straightforward install (compared to other methods). With a professional, a “thermal blanket” is blown throughout the attic space with satisfactory R-Values.
Improved energy efficiency
Blown insulation significantly improves overall energy efficiency. Once installed, the coverage is comprehensive, filling many openings, gaps, and cracks (although not completely airtight).
Noise dampening qualities
With an in-depth install, blown insulation stops noise from intruding throughout the home. This is of benefit to homeowners who use the space adjacent to the attic for work and/or recreation.
Seasonal energy savings
A well-insulated attic and roof cavity is worth the investment. Doing it right stops winter heating and summer cooling from escaping, thus saving energy usage and costs significantly.
Comprehensive coverage
With a professional install, blown insulation provides excellent coverage throughout an attic, blanketing all crossbeams, plumbing pipes, electrical wiring, and any other obtrusions.
Choosing a DIY Install OR a Professional install
There are indeed DIY (do-it-yourself) options for installing new insulation. And it’s true that the DIY approach could save some money. But it’s also true that insulation removal/installation is best left to the professionals who have experience and expertise.
An insulation project could be challenging with a DIY approach – between insulation removal, repairs and retrofits, and final re-installation. The fact is, professionals, deliver the best outcomes, doing it right the first time around, with optimum long-term results.
Homeowners shopping around for a qualified insulation company in Toronto can benefit from the professionals at EcoComfort Insulation. We have in-house insulation professionals who do it all – from air sealing to ventilation to the installation of new materials.
EcoComfort Insulation and Contracting Installs High-Quality Blown-In Insulation
EcoComfort Insulation and Contracting is a highly regarded insulation company in Toronto focusing on quality products and quality installations. Our in-house installation teams assess each homeowner’s needs, recommend the best options for improving energy efficiency, and ensure long-term performance once the installation is complete.
In Toronto and throughout the GTA, homeowners can rely on EcoComfort for a wide range of services – and everything is under one roof. We offer attic and roof inspections; we remove old insulation; we install improved attic ventilation; we upgrade insulation materials, and we provide professional roof leak repair – with all work guaranteed.
When it comes to blown-in insulation, EcoComfort installers provide the highest standard of workmanship on every project. We don’t take any shortcuts, and everything is done right the first time. In short, all of our work is guaranteed, and our team isn’t satisfied until our customer is satisfied (just read all of our great HomeStars reviews).
Homeowners shopping around for a reputable insulation company in Toronto can learn more about EcoComfort products and services by calling 416-333-4554 directly or requesting a price estimate at our company website.
