If you live in a house or an apartment, you probably don’t pay too much attention to the insulation in your attic. But if it’s not done properly or installed correctly, bad insulation can have a major impact on your heating billsand even lead to leaks and ice dams. There are five signs of bad insulation and you can easily get it fixed by hiring Attic Prime experts. Here they are:

Your heating bills keep going up

If your heating bills keep going up and you're not sure why, then it may be time to check your insulation. The amount of heat lost through a building is the biggest culprit to high energy bills. Insulation can reduce heat loss by as much as 50%, making it one of the most beneficial investments you can make in improving your home's efficiency.

You can see or feel drafts in the attic

If you see or feel drafts in your attic, it's a sign that the insulation is poor. A good insulation job will not allow drafts to occur. Drafts from the attic can come from many different places: gaps between rafters, open vents and chimney flues, holes in roofing materials, and even openings around sealant joints where pipes go through walls.

Drafts where pipes go through walls are particularly problematic because they're hard to fix without tearing down drywall and fixing pipe leaks, which is expensive!

The temperature in your attic differs from the rest of your house

If you have a hot attic, it means that the insulation isn't doing its job. The temperature in your attic should match the rest of your house. If it doesn't, then there's a problem with your current insulation and you may need to replace some or all of it.

You've had ice dams or leaks

Imagine this: you wake up in the morning and head to your window. You look out, and see that an inch of snow has fallen overnight. The sun is shining brightly, but the outside is still frigidly cold. You open the window to let fresh air into the house—and you hear a thud from downstairs as ice falls from your roof onto your porch below. That’s an “ice dam,” and it can cause serious problems if left untreated.

Your insulation is old and worn out

If your home's insulation is more than 10 years old, it may be time for a replacement. If you have had insulation in your attic for more than 30 years, it may need to be replaced as well. And if your insulation has been exposed to moisture or mold, it is definitely time for a replacement and cleaning.

Most homeowners have no idea how much of their heat loss comes from the attic. It's a common misconception that your attic is hot, when in fact it can be quite cold.

Conclusion

If you see any of the signs above, it’s time to get your insulation replaced. After all, it's one of the easiest ways to save money on heating costs and reduce your carbon footprint. If you're not sure how much insulation is right for your house, contact a professional who can measure and give advice based on their experience.