Homeowners want their houses to be energy-efficient, and one way to achieve this goal is a well-insulated attic. Many builders nowadays have techniques and methods to install attic insulation effectively. But, sometimes, issues occur during the installation that can cause headaches for homeowners. 

Fortunately, there are solutions to common attic insulation problems. This blog post is for you if you want to learn how to improve attic insulation in your home. 

Compacted or Collapsed Insulation

Attics can serve as storage spaces for extra items in your home. But many homeowners put large items in their attic, which leads to compacted or collapsed insulation. Storing bulky things like boxes and old furniture can lower the stability and efficiency of your attic insulation. 

Compacted or collapsed attic insulation can decrease the R-value of your home. R-value means the ability of your house to retain cool air in summer and maintain heat in winter. The higher the R-value, the more comfortable your home will be all year round. 

The solution to compacted or collapsed attic insulation is to get rid of large items in it. It will be wise if you have another storage room for bulky items. 

Uneven Attic Insulation

Homebuilders should make sure that the material used for the attic insulation is layered evenly. It’s common to use a specialized machine when installing attic insulation nowadays. The problem with this method is that it sometimes results in uneven attic insulation. 

Proper attic insulation is crucial because it can optimize the energy efficiency of your house. Once there’s an issue with the layering of your attic insulation, it can have a negative effect on the insulation’s efficiency, causing you to pay more on your energy bill. 

Ice Damming

Ice damming is indeed an annoying problem during winter. When the snow melts and becomes frozen on your roof’s exterior, this can damage your roof if not solved immediately. The solution to this problem has something to do with your attic insulation. 

Inadequate insulation is one of the primary causes of ice damming. Lack of insulation increases the coolness in your attic during winter, which causes frozen sheets and hanging icicles to form on the roof. 

You can hire a professional to remove ice dams in your roof by steaming. Then, in the summer, you can try improving your attic insulation to avoid ice damming. 

Inadequate Attic Insulation

Inadequate attic insulation can create many issues, such as too much moisture and infestation inside the attic. This problem can also contribute to your high energy bill because cold and hot air can enter and escape through these open spots. 

Fixing the problem of inadequate attic insulation is not that difficult. Call an attic insulation professional to ensure your attic insulation is installed properly. Hire a company with expertise and experience in this field to improve every weak point of your attic insulation. 

The common areas where inadequate attic insulation are found include, attic entrances, windows, skylights, vents, and points along the roof. Screened-in porches, detached garages, and carports are also areas of concern when it comes to inadequate attic insulation. 

Infestation

Pests, insects, and animals can enter your attic when it has inadequate insulation. The attic can serve as their hideout or habitat if you see entry points around it. Rats, racoons, squirrels, bats, and birds are easier to detect when they’re in the attic because they make sounds. But spiders, flies, mosquitoes, termites, and cockroaches are difficult to detect. 

There are ways to eliminate these critters once they’re inside your attic. You can call a pest control company to exterminate them. But the best thing is to have adequate attic insulation so pests, insects, and animals can have no points of entry. You can use replacement insulation barriers or spray foam to block off entry points and holes. 

Blockage in Attic Ventilation

Blocked attic vents can pose a problem because it can help the growth of fungi, mildew, and mold. If ingested or inhaled, these substances can be dangerous to your health. Blockages in the attic vents can also damage the aesthetics of your home. 

If you want to fix such issues in your attic vents, make sure that you don’t insulate them during attic repairs or installation. It’s crucial to locate the attic vents before the job and double-check if they’re not insulated after the job. 

Takeaway

Proper attic insulation is essential to homeowners who want to make their homes energy-efficient. Now, issues may arise when installing attic insulation, which may lead to even bigger problems. That’s why homebuilders should know what are the common attic insulation problems to avoid them. 

Compacted or collapsed attic insulation, blockage in attic vents, inadequate attic insulation, uneven layering of the material, ice damming, and infestation are the common problems that homeowners face.