The snow has melted, birds are chirping, and the flowers are blooming, which can only mean one thing – summer is right around the corner.
While these aspects of summer can be super pleasing, the hot weather can be overwhelming if you don’t have a cool retreat at home. If you have poor insulation, your home can quickly become a sweltering nightmare as temperatures soar.
RetroFoam of Pittsburgh has helped hundreds of homeowners make their homes more comfortable just by creating an air seal with foam insulation. Think about it – if that sticky hot air can’t get in, the air you pay to cool can’t get out.
Now, sit back, throw on some board shorts, and grab a mojito while we discuss these five signs your Pittsburgh home has poor insulation.
Five Home Insulation Problems that Show Up in the Summer
Whether your home insulation problems are due to no insulation or your traditional insulation, like cellulose or fiberglass, is on its last legs, here are some of the issues you are likely experiencing.
High Cooling Bills
If your monthly energy bills are through the roof in the summer, it’s likely because your insulation isn’t doing its job.
Your air conditioner is running constantly to maintain a comfortable temperature, which will, of course, impact your cooling costs.
The Upstairs and Attic are Unbearably Hot
If you avoid the second story of your home or your attic during the summer because it’s hotter than Hades, that’s another sign your insulation has failed you.
It’s science – hot air rises. It gets into your home because either you have no insulation or the insulation you have has broken down or allows for air movement.
Hot Air Moves into the Home, Bringing Allergens with It
You’re probably noticing yellow dusting outside your home.
That’s pollen, one of the allergens that pop up this time of year. If air leaks into your home, those allergens come in with it. Insulation materials like fiberglass allow the air to pass through it and retain those allergens, making your home less healthy.
Higher Humidity Levels
Is your house more of a sauna during the summer rather than a home?
The humidity levels in your home are likely too high. Let me science it up for you – hot air is less dense than cold air, making it easier for moisture to travel with it.
If hot air leaks into your home and through your insulation, it brings moisture in with it, making your house a sauna.
Hotter Air is Lighter, Thus it Brings Unwanted Odors with It
Just like the point above, hotter air is lighter, allowing gases and moisture to travel with it.
One of those gases is odor. Smells from outdoors, like mildew or exhaust, can easily permeate your traditional insulation, leaving your home smelling like a wet dog.
How to Solve Poor Insulation Problems
You can solve these problems before they get out of hand by updating or replacing your home insulation before summer gets in full swing.
Your goals and expectations for your home will dictate whether you stay with traditional insulation or upgrade to foam insulation.
If you want to learn more about the benefits of foam insulation in your home, visit our website’s Learning Center.
