November 30, 2020
Buying a new house can be a huge investment. To make sure that it offers maximum comfort and won’t require additional maintenance costs, one of the key things you must look for is proper home insulation.
You probably know already how chilly it can get during winters in Pennsylvania. A well-insulated house keeps you warm and cozy during the cold months. In fact, it also ensures a comfortable indoor environment when the temperature gets hot outside. This is because insulation works both ways. It keeps your place warm during winter and cool during the summer season.
Buying a house that’s properly insulated is more cost-effective than buying one with poor or no insulation and fixing it afterwards. But how can you tell the difference between poor and proper insulation?
Our professional insulation installers have rounded up the major signs of poor insulation that you should watch out for.
A reversed vapor barrier on batt insulation is a definite sign that the house requires an insulation overhaul. The vapor barrier, which looks like a paper, should always be facing into the house when the insulation is installed into the wall cavity. If it’s placed the other way round, it can accumulate moisture from the humid indoor air. This can increase the risk of fungal growth and mold infestation within the walls.
If you go house hunting during the winter season, check the interior walls, floors, and ceiling for proper insulation by placing your hand over the surfaces. They should feel warm and dry to the touch. If they feel rather cold or damp instead, it means they are under insulated. Similarly, the outer walls should feel somewhat cool as they trap warm air inside.
Compressed, dirty, or matted down insulation no longer works as effectively in maintaining indoor temperatures as you have fewer inches or thickness of air trapping material.
Always inspect the house carefully to make sure there isn’t any insulation placed in areas where it shouldn’t be. For example, the insulation shouldn’t be blocking vents or central air ducts.
Don’t forget to check around basement windows, attic access doors, crawlspace access panels and the likes. Missing or insufficient insulation in these areas means you will be complaining of drafts throughout the cold season.