Improving your home is a focus of homeowners today. Decorating, gardening, and creating a sense of comfort is a priority as the home is where we make our memories and build our lives. Here are 4 signs that it is time for new insulation in the home:
1. High Energy Bills
Nine of ten homes in the U.S. today are under insulated according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Homeowners are tossing their hard-earned money into the wind. Opting to replace or enhance existing insulation with new insulation is a move towards a more energy efficient direction. When the home is properly insulated, the home’s heating/cooling system doesn’t have to work as hard and the home’s occupants are more comfortable. Installing an insulation with a high r-value such as TAP® Pest Control Insulation, less insulation is needed to achieve energy efficient savings on annual heating and cooling costs. Talk about comfort!
2. House Is Drafty
While the culprit here can be poorly sealed windows and doors, the likely answer to improving your home is to increase the insulation. Blocking out those chilly or freezing outdoor temperatures during the winter months is the job of your insulation. When you are experiencing drafty cold air in your living spaces, your insulation may be the culprit.
3. Allergies in Your Home
There are times when the insulation can become moldy due to mildew. When the attic is not properly ventilated, the attic can’t breathe. This builds up moisture and creates the opportunity for mold and mildew to take up residence. Another factor to consider is the presence of cockroaches crawling through insulation in search of shelter and sustenance which have been linked to allergies and asthma.
4. Visible Pest Presence
Pest are unwanted house guests any time during the year. In addition to bacteria and disease they can bring into the home, they can also weaken or destroy the home’s structure. The key with pests is to consider an insulation that is an EPA-registered pesticide. How do you know if it is an EPA-registered pesticide? Read the label.
Pests love foam. Spray foam insulation, or spray polyurethane foam (SPF) can actually mask pest presence in the home. If termites, for example, are present in your attic or crawl space, by the time they are discovered, significant damage may have already occurred. This has become such a problem for homeowners that Georgia’s Agriculture Commissioner, Gary Black, and Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Structural Pest Division has published a report on the matter.
Most insulation products contain boron in small doses to pass the mold and flame retardancy tests. However, TAP® Pest Control Insulation is one of the two in the United States that has an EPA registration proven to control pests. In addition, TAP® Pest Control Insulation is Energy Star® rated and UL Classified. The benefits are easily identified and set it apart from other insulations on the market.