If you have a good HVAC system and your doors and windows are properly sealed, your home should be comfortable regardless of the temperature outside. However, if your home isn’t comfortable or you notice your HVAC system working harder than normal, something may be wrong with your insulation. Keep reading to learn how to check the insulation in your home so you can get yourself and your family comfortable again.
Attic Insulation
Depending on the state of your attic, you may need to lay down boards to walk on and wear a protective face mask. Even if your attic is mostly finished, you should take a flashlight, head protection, a tape measure, and safety gloves.
Quick Check
First, perform an overall inspection of your attic by checking if your insulation is even with or lower than the floor joists. If you can see the floor joists—even just the tops of them—then you probably need more insulation in your attic. If you can’t see the joists and there aren’t any dips indicating the insulation is low between the joists, then your attic has enough insulation.
Detailed Check
If you want to know exactly how much insulation is in your attic, you can measure it. Be sure to follow certain safety precautions as some older attics have vermiculite insulation, which contains asbestos. When inhaled, asbestos can damage your lungs; disturbing it in any way can create a hazard in your attic and below if it were to get through your ceilings.
If you know your attic doesn’t have this type of insulation, you can proceed with your inspection by sticking a tape measure into any area. Write down how deep the insulation is so you can calculate the R-value—how well the insulation performs—once you’re safely out of the attic. Depending on the type of insulation you have and where your home is located, you can determine what the R-value should be. If the R-value you calculate is lower than the recommended amount, you may need more insulation. You may also need to replace your insulation, depending on the insulation type and how long it’s been in your home.
Wall Insulation
Checking a wall for insulation is much easier than checking your attic insulation; all you have to do is check through an electrical outlet. Before performing the check, turn power off to that outlet and verify that the line isn’t live before proceeding. Then you can remove the outlet cover and check around the outlet with a flashlight; you should be able to see your insulation and determine its thickness. If your wall has no insulation—which can be the case in older homes—or the wall is not properly insulated, you may need to install new insulation.
Home Energy Audit
If you’ve checked your insulation and still can’t determine why your home isn’t comfortable, schedule a home energy audit. A home energy audit will bring a professional to your home with equipment that can identify air leaks invisible to the human eye. These professionals can also teach you how to make your home more energy-efficient, which will save you money.
Now you know how to check the insulation in your home, both in your attic and your walls. Checking your insulation can be dangerous, but if you take the right precautions, you can safely learn what’s going on inside your home. If you’re having trouble finding the problem, a professional home energy audit will help.