How Do You Know You Need New Insulation?

A well-working HVAC system requires that the home or business is properly insulated, otherwise all of the temperature-controlled air will simply leak out into the surrounding environment—or the surrounding environment will invade the temperature-controlled space. In either case, this will often make the system work more than it should, trying to compensate for this mixing. If your air conditioning or heating seems to be overworked, or if you notice drafts or inappropriate humidity inside your home or business, this may be a sign that you need new insulation.

The primary purpose of insulation is to create a barrier between inside air and outside air. If the insulation is insufficient, the cooling and heating system will work harder because heat exchange due to the temperature differential will be much faster than with appropriate insulation present. Thus, if you notice that your air conditioning or heating system is working harder than it should be, or if it runs and runs and runs to get the right temperature inside, then there might be an issue with the insulation. It’s possible that there is a problem with the air conditioner or heater itself, but if that can be ruled out, the insulation might be the culprit.

Insulation must be installed throughout the home, especially wherever a wall or ceiling is adjacent to the outside. Insulation usually covers the entire floor of the attic so that the ceilings of each room are protected, and exterior walls are also insulated to protect from the outside air. It may be the case that insulation in one or two rooms is damaged or insufficient for some other reason and this will usually cause those rooms to be closer to outside temperature than other rooms in the house. So, if one room in the house is consistently harder to control the temperature than the rest of the house, this may be a sign that the insulation in that room needs to be replaced or repaired.

The main function of an air conditioner is to remove moisture from the air. In fact, this was the purpose for which it was invented, and the fact that the air cools at the same time was a happy side-effect. As part of keeping out the outside environment, insulation should also reduce the intrusion of humidity while the air conditioner is functioning properly. This is especially important in Southwest Florida, and especially in the summer months. If you notice higher levels of humidity in your home, or even in one or two rooms, it may be a sign that the insulation needs to be replaced or repaired.

Insulation is an integral part of a home or office’s cooling and heating system, and just like any other part of the system, if it is damaged, the entire system can suffer. Be sure to pay attention to the signs that your insulation is doing its job appropriately, and if you have any questions be sure to contact All Day Air Cooling and Heating at (239) 357-0727. Our team has years of experience with HVAC installation and repair, including insulation.