3 Signs Your Attic Insulation Isn’t Doing It’s Job

Believe it or not, being stuck in the middle of winter is good for at least one reason. It’s a great time to spot signs that your attic insulation might not be doing its job.

Signs That Your Attic Insulation Needs Some Help

We’ve written recently about ice damming. It is a sign that your attic insulation levels are too low, or that something, like moisture, is preventing your insulation from doing its job according to its R-value.

Here are three other signs that your insulation might be in trouble.

1. Cold Drafts – Yes, some winters are colder than others. But there’s a difference between cold and cold drafts. If you notice drafts in your home for the first time, or they are worse than previous years, it can mean that your attic insulation isn’t  keeping the cold air in your attic from getting into the living areas of your home.

2. You Have an Attic Leak – Yes, that could be because of a leak in your roof. But, if you spot water damage on your ceiling or walls, and you check the underside of your roof deck from your attic and there’s no sign of a leak, you might have a different type of leak. 

When your insulation isn’t insulating properly, warm air gets into the attic. When that hot air comes in contact with the cold underside of your roof deck, condensation can form. Enough condensation and you can have an attic leak even without having a roof leak. And it’s all because of your poor attic insulation. One clear indication of condensation issues is rusted nails throughout the attic space.

3. Your Furnace is On Almost Constantly – Even if you don’t notice a draft, colder than normal temperatures in your home can be triggering your furnace to go on more often than usual. If you don’t happen to notice the furnace being on all the time, see if you notice an increase in your energy bills.

If you see or experience any of these issues, it is time to call a professional to best determine the cause and come up with a plan to correct it moving forward.