Improving the state of your home’s insulation is certainly a good idea. Most of the homes would only benefit from changing the type of insulation or just increasing the amount of it.
Poor insulation installation on the other hand can lead to many other problems. These problems can be detrimental to the building structure and fabric. Reversing these damages would be even more expensive.
Adding proper insulation such as spray foam, can have many positive effects. By doing this you will enjoy increased home comfort, saving on energy bills and increased resale value of your home.
A recent study suggests that 97% of the buildings in Canada may need to upgrade their existing insulation. This is in order to achieve an Energy Efficiency Certificate rating of at least ‘A’.
The study goes further and evaluates that around 75% of the homes have insufficient or not properly installed insulation. Only those buildings built after 2010 were evaluated to have proper insulation and achieve “A” rating.
Poorly installed insulation might have visible signs. But short term and long term effects on the other hand might not be visible immediately. You may have to live under these conditions for quite some time in order to feel the real effects of it.
Some of the detrimental effects of poor insulation installation include the following:
- Fluctuations in indoor temperature
- Increased energy bills
- Excess moisture resulting in mould
- Frozen pipes and other sections of the house
- Compromised building structure
- Health problems, etc.
Fluctuations in Indoor Temperature
Insulation installation prevents any air leakage. It is used to keep the warm air inside and prevent outdoor cold air from entering the house. These air sealing properties of the insulation help keep a stable temperature inside your home.
If you are struggling with the indoor heating and cooling process, then poor insulation might be to blame.
Insulation materials and the quality of installation are the main factors which determine your home’s energy efficiency. In cold homes, one of the above factors might be compromised.
Increased Energy Bills
Your energy bills might be directly related to the existence or not of insulation and air barriers. In case you are experiencing abnormal high energy bills, then the poor insulation installation might be the main reason behind.
Heat generated from the HVAC system might be leaking out from your walls or attic spaces. This means that the HVAC system needs to work excessively to maintain the required indoor climate. In turn you will pay more on energy bills.
Consuming more energy to heat your indoor environment will not only increase your bills, but also the carbon footprint released in the atmosphere.
Excess Moisture Resulting in Mould
If you are experiencing mould or damp areas in your home, then poor insulation might be the root cause of it. The insulation has become wet or the air and vapor barriers are not functioning properly.
Insulation that has degraded into mould needs to be replaced immediately. It will never restore itself to the original conditions, nor will it dry out. These conditions will make attic insulation ineffective and will also lead to other problems such as problems in the airflow and the quality of indoor air.
Frozen Pipes and Other Sections of the House
Hey, it’s Toronto, and the weather can be extremely cold for most of the winter. It is under these conditions that your home can experience frozen pipes, frozen roofs, or colder than usual water tanks. If the freezing conditions continue for quite some time, it can result in burst pipes and broken roof tiles.
Good insulation material that is properly installed will ensure that your home is protected during the winter. Leaving the HVAC system to work overtime during the winter can certainly reduce the impact of freezing weather conditions. But if your home has good insulation, all these will not be necessary.
Compromised Building Structure
Insulation that is not properly installed can compromise the building structure itself. Improper installation can result in excessive amounts of moisture in the attic or walls. This excess moisture can compromise the metal structure of your building such as nails and fasteners.
Metal elements in contact with moisture will rust and deteriorate quickly. Not only will rust damage the structure of your house, but it will also damage the heating and plumbing systems. The air quality of your home will also be compromised as a result, due to the lack of good air circulation.
Health Problems
Good insulation is crucial to maintaining a healthy indoor environment. It creates a comfortable and warm indoor environment for everyone. It also helps the circulation of qualitative air, as it works as a barrier to prevent outdoor pollutants from entering inside.
The main health problems caused by poor insulation are those related to the respiratory system. Improper insulation might result in chemical participles being released into the air. These chemicals might be hazardous for your health in the long term.
The most visible sign of poor insulation, in this case, would be a persistent odour in the after days following the insulation installation. An insulation contractor might come to the rescue in such situations.
Spray Foam Insulation to the Rescue
Spray foam insulation has resulted to be the best option for insulating your home. Its dense composition offers a higher R-value per inch of insulation. It is perfect for walls and ceilings insulation. It is also space saving due to its dense composition.
Its ability to seal air leakages and cracks in your home is incomparable to any other insulation materials. Spray Foam Insulation has been considered to act as an air and sound barrier due to this precise quality. It can also be easily sprayed on almost all types of materials.
Spray foam insulation boasts all the benefits that good insulation has to offer. Take control of your home’s comfort today and call us at (416) 860-6664 or send us an email with your insulation requirements at [email protected]. We will make sure to respond quickly and evaluate your case individually.
