It is essential that insulation in your attic is installed with the right R-Value. This is the thermal resistance (resistance to heat flow) an insulator has. The greater this value, the more effective the insulation will be, meaning the better its ability to withstand the flow of heat or cold. When determining the R-value, the thickness, type of material, and density are all taken into account. Look for insulation with a high R-value to properly insulate your home. This will likely be an R-value of 60 for attics for example, but may be a lower R-value for other areas of your home such as your exterior walls.

In Ontario, building regulations have only increased over time (in 1992, R-value requirements were R-30, but now R-value requirements are R-50/60). If your home is over 25 years old and insulation in your attic has never been updated, it is likely that your R-Value between 15 – 30 since insulation materials settle over time. Moreover, if your house was built in the early ’70s, you may just have a little bit of insulation in the attic or even empty cavities between the joists. Therefore you would need to bring it to today’s’ standards by adding insulation.

WHY IS INSULATION SO IMPORTANT?

Heat naturally flows from warmer areas to cooler areas. Insulation can help resist this airflow through walls, ceilings, roofs, and other surfaces of the home. It stops heat from exiting the house in the winter and entering the house in the summer, acting as a protective barrier between you and the outside conditions.

The most important location in your home to have high quality insulation is in the attic. Hot air rises, and as such when you have heat pumping through your house in the winter, a lot of that air is able to escape through the roof via the attic. In the summer on the other hand, heat is able to enter into your home through the roof and attic. This can make you uncomfortably warm, tempting you to crank up the air conditioner and drive up your energy bills. Further, upgrading your old insulation to good insulation in your attic can help protect against moisture penetration. This helps to deter mold, odor, and rot, which can be very dangerous to your health and damaging to your home. Good insulation will save you money and decrease your use of limited energy resources. It will also help to keep you comfortable by creating more uniform temperatures and less draft throughout your home.

WHEN YOU SHOULD REPLACE YOUR INSULATION

It is important to know that removing old insulation yourself can be hazardous. The material might be toxic especially if you’ve had wildlife or pests living in your attic. Animal feces contain many disease-causing pathogens that soak into the insulation and make it dangerous to inhale or handle. Mold and mildew are also toxic and shouldn’t be handled without proper gear including gloves and respirator or face mask. It is also dangerous working in an attic that is not properly ventilated, working in tight spaces and with unstable attic floors. Our professionals know how to work in all kinds of spaces and environments remove your old insulation efficiently and effectively. They also remove toxic material without contaminating the rest of the house and know how to dispose of it safely and responsibly.

There are some instances where you can install new insulation over the old one, especially when working with batting. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Our insulation specialists can provide accurate information after inspection.

There are instances where you need to remove old insulation, such as:

  • After wildlife or pest removal

  • Mold and mildew on insulation

  • Asbestos insulation – usually for homes built before 1975

  • Leaking roof and other moisture issues