Here in New York’s climate of cold, snowy winters and humid summers, home insulation plays a crucial role in protecting you from temperature swings and keeping energy costs under control. But insulation doesn’t last forever. In fact, many homes with insulation that’s 10 years old or older are no longer getting the full performance they once had.
What’s worse, insulation performance tends to decline slowly over time. The signs aren’t always obvious, which is why many homeowners overlook the issue and assume they need a furnace or AC replacement instead. But if your insulation is underperforming, your HVAC system is likely working overtime to compensate.
Let’s break down why insulation can fail over time, the common signs of aging or damaged insulation, and how Energy Savers can help you address these issues for good.
Why Older Insulation Starts to Fail
Most homes built before the 2010s were insulated with fiberglass batts or, in some cases, blown-in cellulose. While both of these can be effective when properly installed, they’re also vulnerable to long-term issues.
1. Fiberglass Loses R-Value When Compressed or Disturbed
Fiberglass insulation works by trapping air in its fluffy fibers. But over time, it can get compressed, either by being stepped on during attic work, sagging in wall cavities, or even settling under its own weight. When fiberglass gets compressed, it loses its insulating power (called R-value).
Additionally, if it has been moved or shifted during electrical work, plumbing upgrades, or renovations, you may have gaps or voids that allow cold to seep in.
2. There Wasn’t Enough to Begin With
Many homes in New York were under-insulated from the start. Building codes have undergone significant changes over the past two decades, and what was considered “sufficient” in 2000 is now far below standard.
For example, today’s recommended R-value for attics in our region is R-49 to R-60, but many older homes we see have just R-19 to R-30. That means heat is escaping right through your roof in the winter and seeping in during the summer. And it is not uncommon for basements and crawl spaces to be completely uninsulated.
Additionally, we often see fiberglass insulation installed poorly, with large gaps and poor adhesion to surfaces, which will also most certainly lead to early degradation. When insulation is installed inconsistently or on the wrong side of a wall cavity, the air moving in from the exterior will cause a “wind washing” effect, further degrading your insulation while not doing anything to keep your home more comfortable.
3. Cellulose Can Settle or Absorb Moisture
Blown-in cellulose, while more environmentally friendly and resistant to air movement, can still have its problems. It can settle over time, especially if it wasn’t installed to the right density or depth. This settling creates gaps at the top of wall cavities or attic floors, exactly where you want insulation the most.
Worse, cellulose is highly absorbent. If you’ve had a roof leak, high attic humidity, or ice dams, there’s a chance your cellulose insulation has soaked up moisture. Wet insulation not only loses effectiveness but can also harbor mold and attract pests.
How to Know It’s Time to Replace or Upgrade Your Insulation
Insulation doesn’t have a flashing warning light when it starts to fail, but there are some key signs that your home may be suffering from old insulation problems:
- Your home feels drafty or has uneven temperatures between rooms or floors
- Ice dams and large icicles form along your roof edges in winter
- Your HVAC system runs constantly, but comfort doesn’t improve
- Energy bills have steadily increased
- You’ve had moisture issues, roof leaks, or pest problems in the attic
- You’ve never had your insulation inspected, or don’t know what kind of insulation you have
If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to have the experts take a closer look.
How Energy Savers Diagnoses and Fixes Insulation Issues
At Energy Savers, Inc., we specialize in solving home comfort and efficiency problems from the inside out, starting with what’s behind the walls. Our team is BPI-certified and trained in building science, which means we understand exactly how insulation, air sealing, and ventilation work together to keep your home efficient and comfortable year-round.
We start with a comprehensive home energy audit, using advanced diagnostic tools like:
- Infrared thermal imaging to pinpoint exactly where insulation is missing or underperforming
- Moisture meters and visual inspections to detect water damage or mold-prone areas
- Blower door tests to measure how leaky your home is
From there, we’ll develop a tailored plan to address your specific insulation replacement or upgrade needs.
Spray Foam Insulation Provides Long-Term Performance
There’s never a single solution that will work for every home or scenario, but as insulation materials go, we often recommend spray foam insulation for long-term performance. Spray foam insulation starts as a liquid and is mixed with other chemicals as it is sprayed into the cavities and areas that need insulating. It then hardens and offers the highest R-value per inch of any insulation material. It also expands to fill air gaps and will last longer than both fiberglass and cellulose.
Don’t Wait, Insulation Problems Only Get Worse
If your insulation is more than 10 years old, you might be living with reduced comfort and higher energy bills without even realizing it. A proactive inspection from Energy Savers today could save you thousands in heating and cooling costs in the future.
Let Energy Savers help you take the guesswork out of your home insulation issues. We’ll make sure your home is sealed, insulated, and set up for year-round comfort, no matter what the weather in Onondaga, Oswego, Oneida, Cortland, Cayuga, and Broome counties throws at it.
