2 Signs It's Time To Replace Your Attic's Old Insulation
If you have started noticing drafts in your house, you may be trying to find out where the cold air is coming from. If you have already checked for spaces around your doors and windows, you may start to suspect that the drafts are coming from your attic.
If your attic's insulation is old, there is a possibility that it is no longer keeping the cold air out. Along with the drafts you are feeling, there are a couple of other signs that it may be time to call in a professional to replace your attic's old insulation.
1. Your Roof Forms Icicles or Ice Dams During the Winter Months
One sign that your attic's insulation has started to deteriorate and is no longer serving as an effective barrier between your home and the outside air can be found during the winter months. You may have noticed during the previous winter that icicles and ice dams have started forming on your roof.
If the insulation has deteriorated, it will start allowing the heat inside your home to warm up the underside of the roof. As this happens, any wintry accumulation will melt and then freeze when the temperatures drop. Especially if you have never had this problem in the past, it could be an indicator that you need to have the insulation in the attic replaced.
2. You Find Evidence of Insects Or Other Pests Living in Your Attic
Another sign that your attic insulation needs replacing because of damage is when you find evidence of pests living in your attic. If you see an uptick in the number of insects or find that rodents or birds are nesting in your attic, there is a very good chance that they are also making their way into the walls and ceiling.
As they enter into the structures, they will tear the insulation apart, leaving holes that allow air to escape. Even if you are able to get rid of the pests, the damage to the insulation will have been done.
When your roof starts forming ice dams and icicles when you previously did not have this issue or when you find signs that bugs, rodents, or even birds have taken up residence in your attic, there is a good chance that the insulation is deteriorating or has been damaged. Because of this, you may also find that your energy bills are increasing in the winter because of the loss of heat. Contact a contractor near your home to discuss your attic insulation.