Now that the temperature is beginning to drop, you may be wondering if your home feels a little more chilly inside than usual. Even with the heat turned on, there is a touch of frost in the air. How could that be? The answer may be in your insulation, or lack of it. Insulation plays a crucial role in maintaining comfort and energy efficiency in your New Jersey home. Insufficient insulation can lead to temperature fluctuations, drafts, and higher energy bills, especially during extreme seasons. But how can you tell if your home needs more insulation, and where should it go?
Let’s discuss insulation, as well as the signs that indicate you need an upgrade. If you need more insulation in the roof and attic, consider giving us at RGB Construction a call.
Key Takeaways
- Proper insulation is key to comfort and energy efficiency, helping to reduce drafts, temperature swings, and high utility costs, especially in New Jersey’s extreme temperatures.
- Key spots needing insulation include the attic, walls, floors above unheated spaces, and ductwork, all of which help maintain indoor temperatures.
- Signs your home needs more insulation include uneven room temperatures, drafts, high energy bills, cold surfaces, and roof ice dams.
- Adding insulation involves assessing current insulation, sealing air leaks, choosing the right material, and ensuring proper ventilation for efficiency and cost savings.
- For optimized results, RGB Construction can provide insulation services to improve your home’s comfort and energy savings year-round.
Where Does Insulation Go?
Insulation is typically installed in key areas of your home to create a thermal barrier, minimizing the transfer of heat between indoor and outdoor spaces. The main spaces where insulation is installed include:
- Attic and roof: The attic is one of the primary spots for insulation. Since heat rises, having a well-insulated attic helps prevent warmth from escaping in winter and keeps your home cooler in summer.
- Exterior walls: Insulating exterior walls reduces heat transfer through your walls, helping maintain stable indoor temperatures and reducing noise from outside.
- Floors above unheated spaces: If you have rooms above garages, crawl spaces, or basements, insulating the floors prevents cold air from seeping into these areas and affecting the comfort of your living spaces.
- Ductwork and piping: Insulating ductwork in unconditioned spaces, like attics or crawl spaces, helps retain the air temperature flowing through, reducing energy loss.
Signs Your Home Needs More Insulation
Most homes, whether they are older or a newer construction, have some level of insulation within the walls and attic. However, some homes may not have enough insulation, leading to several issues that will affect the comfort of your home and utility costs. A couple of issues may even lead to damage done to the roof and other sections of the building.
Here are some common signs pointing to a lack of insulation:
Temperature Fluctuations
When certain rooms in your home feel colder in winter or hotter in summer than the rest of the house, this could indicate inadequate insulation. Uneven temperatures typically mean that your insulation isn’t providing a sufficient barrier against outside weather, causing some areas to lose or gain heat more quickly than others.
Drafts from Doors and Windows
If you feel drafts around your doors, windows, or walls, it often points to air leaks and insufficient insulation in those areas. Drafts can occur due to gaps, poorly sealed windows, or thin insulation, making it harder to maintain a consistent temperature throughout your home and allowing cold or hot air to infiltrate.
High Energy Bills
If you notice an increase in your energy costs, it may be due to poor insulation allowing heat to escape during winter and enter during summer. This forces your heating and cooling systems to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature, driving up your utility bills. Upgrading your insulation can make a significant difference in energy efficiency and help you save money over time.
Cold Walls, Floors, and Ceilings
When walls, floors, or ceilings feel cold to the touch in winter or hot in summer, it’s often a sign of poor or inadequate insulation. This not only affects comfort but also indicates that these surfaces aren’t being properly insulated to block temperature transfer, which can lead to an overall drop in home efficiency.
Ice Dams
In cold climates, ice dams are a common and troublesome issue. They form when heat from your home escapes through an inadequately insulated attic, causing snow on the roof to melt and refreeze at the edges. Ice dams can damage your roof, gutters, and walls and increase the risk of leaks. Proper attic insulation helps prevent this by keeping warm air inside, reducing the likelihood of ice dams.
How to Get More Insulation in Your Roof and Attic in New Jersey
Adding insulation to your roof and attic is an effective way to improve your home’s energy efficiency and overall comfort. You can increase insulation by installing it yourself, but it is highly recommended that you call in a professional roofing company to help install insulation throughout the attic and crawl spaces.
Here is a look at the process, so you know what to expect:
- Inspect and Evaluate Existing Insulation: First, a professional can assess your current insulation to identify areas that may need additional material. This inspection will also check for any issues like mold or dampness, which should be addressed before adding new insulation.
- Choose the Right Insulation Type: Attic insulation comes in several forms, including fiberglass batts, spray foam, and loose-fill cellulose. Each type has its benefits, and the best choice depends on your home’s structure, your budget, and your efficiency goals.
- Seal Air Leaks: Before adding more insulation, it’s essential to seal any air leaks. Professionals use caulking or foam sealants around areas like windows, doors, and any gaps where air can escape, ensuring that your insulation performs optimally.
- Install Additional Insulation: Once any leaks are sealed, new insulation is added. It’s critical to install the insulation to the proper thickness and density for maximum efficiency. In New Jersey, the recommended insulation for attics is R-38 to R-60, while walls should be R-13 to R-21, depending on the area.
- Evaluate Ventilation Needs: Proper ventilation in the attic helps regulate temperatures and prevents issues like moisture buildup. Ensuring that your attic has adequate ventilation will help your insulation work efficiently without causing condensation or mold growth.
Contact a South Jersey Roofing Contractor Today to Learn More
If you’re experiencing uneven temperatures, drafts, or high energy bills, it may be time to look into adding more insulation to your home. Call upon RGB Construction. We provide roofing services, including inspections to see if your roof or insulation is in need of rescue. Our team will help make your South Jersey home more energy-efficient and comfortable at a competitive rate.
Contact RGB Construction today by calling 856-264-9093 to schedule a consultation and learn how we can enhance your home’s insulation in Pennsauken Township, NJ.
