Insulation Pros of Surrey
Providing quality, efficient and affordable services to the local residents and businesses in Surrey BC and surrounding area.
Insulation Replacement Services
Since your insulation is hidden inside the walls of your home, it is possible that you don't give it much thought as to whether it needs to be replaced or not. Maybe you recently purchased a new home in Surrey, BC and aren't sure the insulation is doing its job quite right. Maybe you've noticed a few suspicious signs that you might want to consider getting your insulation looked at. Whatever your situation is, the team at Insulation Pros of Surrey is happy to help; here are six signs that you might need to replace your insulation or at least get it inspected.
Contact us today at (604) 924-7438
Residential Insulation Repair Services
There are many reasons to replace you insulation and knowing when it's necessary versus when it you can save what you have already installed. Let us walk you through some of the situations you'll want to get a restoration. If we can help you save money by providing a cheap insulation option that allows you to save instead of replacing.
6 Signs You Need to Replace Your Insulation
Lingering Unpleasant Odours
If you have noticed some unpleasant smells lingering in your home or certain areas of your home, even after cleaning, then it might be coming from your insulation. A slightly musty or earthy smell can permeate from your insulation into your home which could be an indication of mould present. Most types of insulation are not waterproof, and if they get wet, they can grow mould and become quite stinky. After making sure the smell isn't coming from your pets, kids or rug, it is time to consider hidden culprits. Call in our team of insulation contractors to help you determine if the cause is your insulation.
Call us at (604) 924-7438 for any questions you might have.
Worsening Allery Symptoms
Allergy symptoms that don't subside when indoors or that don't seem to have a specific cause might be triggered by your insulation. In addition to the unpleasant odours produced by mouldy or broken-down insulation, it has the potential to trigger allergies or make them worse. Insulation can also do a great job of trapping dust or other allergens that can adversely affect the air quality of your home. Even without noticeable symptoms, mould or excess dust in your insulation can cause a health risk to you and your family. Our installers will remove the old insulation and replace it with new insulation as well as confirm the state of your vapour barrier to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
Water Damage
Water damage often presents itself in the form of wet or dark spots on your walls, ceiling or flooring. Even without an active leak, this can be a concern for your insulation due to its absorbent nature similar to a sponge soaking up moisture. Having an excess of water can cause the insulation to break down over time reducing its efficiency to manage heat loss and gains. Our team is well-equipped to handle the proper removal and installation of your insulation to prevent further damage. Water damage means there is the possibility of mould growth, which we've already established as an unwanted risk in your insulation and home. In a similar vein, faulty or insufficient insulation may also cause water damage in unexpected ways. If a pipe is not properly insulated, it can freeze and burst or leak, causing substantial damage to more than just the insulation in your house.
A Rise in Energy Bills
If your energy bills seem to be increasing over time without touching the thermostat, it may be an indicator that your insulation is no longer functioning properly. Whether it is simply old or damaged in some way, rising energy bills are a clear indicator that your insulation may need replacing. Our team has the know-how to assess the main causes of your heat loss and professionally repair your insulation issues.
Heating and Cooling Issues
Similar to rising energy bills, if your furnace or HVAC system seems to be working overtime to maintain the room temperature, it might be because the insulation is not doing its job. This may also present itself as a particularly cool, drafty wall or warmer area of your home. Let our insulation contractors help you manage the varying temperatures of your home.
Household Pests
Unwanted visitors in the form of rodents and wildlife can wreak havoc on your insulation. While making nests, these household pests can eat and burrow through your insulation, leaving holes and areas missing altogether. Even after getting rid of your unwanted houseguests, they can leave behind feces or gaps for water to enter. It is important to get your insulation inspected by our experts at Insulation Pros of Surrey and replaced after getting rid of household pests to prevent the further potential of mold or health concerns. It is important to keep in mind that rodents, such as mice often carry diseases that can put your family at risk.
Understanding Insulation Rating Levels
What is R-Value?
Not all insulation is created equal, and not all homes will have the same insulation requirements. For example, a home in Florida will not have the same insulation needs as one in Surrey, BC due to the vastly different temperatures and weather patterns. Surrey sees snow and rain in the winter and hot humid weather in the summer. These varying weather changes in our province require our community to have the proper insulation installed and well-maintained.
The R-value of different materials is a way to measure the resistance it has to the flow of heat. A material that is better at insulating a home will have a higher R-value as it provides better resistance to the heat flow, essentially better keeping the heat in your home instead of allowing it to escape.
R-values can range from around 10 for the flooring to 60 when used as dense attic insulation. In general, the higher the R-value, the more the insulation will cost. The R-value is also calculated based on the resistance per one inch of insulation material. This means that doubling up on a lower R-value insulation can have the same overall R-value as a higher material. Two inches of material with an R-value of 20 will have the same insulative properties as one inch of R40 material. Something we like to remind our customers is installing two layers of insulation may end up costing you more in materials and labour than one layer of more expensive insulation.
The recommended R-value of insulation in your home will vary according to building codes in your area and the type of heating system you are using. Commonly in Surrey, BC, a good range to aim for is R50 to R60 for attic insulation and R25 to R30 for floors. Increasing the R-value of insulation in your attic is an easy way to help your home retain heat; compared to insulating the walls or flooring, it is a less invasive and less labour-intensive project to undertake. However, by increasing the R-value, you have the opportunity to reduce heat loss in your home and possibly reduce your annual heating bills.
The team at Insulation Pros of Surrey is available to help you better understand the R-value of your home's insulation and identify areas where upping the R-value might have a significant impact on your comfort and energy bills.