Many homes have loft insulation these days, as loft insulation can improve the energy efficiency within your home, make your home feel more comfortable, and improve the overall property performance.
All loft insulation materials deteriorate over time, meaning they’ll lose effectiveness. You might not even know your insulation isn’t performing as it should, leading to higher energy costs and a reduction in thermal efficiency.
Signs Your Energy Bills Are Increasing Without Explanation
There are a few signs your loft insulation isn’t working like it should. If you notice your energy bills climbing, without changing how you use power, it can mean you’re dealing with heat loss through your loft, and not just a rate change.
Compare your bills from the same month in previous years – the seasonal pattern looks different, it could be that your insulation might be failing or settling.
Watch out for cold spots, or room that feel drafty when when you’ve been running the central heating. You system ends up working harder, to keep the hour warm, and will show up as higher energy use, as the heat is escaping through the loft.
Look for other signs within your home, like frost on your window frames, icicles on the eaves or an uneven ceiling temperature.
Rooms That Feel Colder In Winter And Hotter In Summer
If a room in your house is feeling noticeably colder in winter (and hotter in summer), your insulation within the loft might be failing. Heat rises into the roof space, and if your loft insulation is thin, missing or compressed, it cannot block that flow, so rooms below end up more exposed to outdoor temperatures.
Check the rooms on the edge of the house, or directly under your loft. Exterior rooms, attic rooms and spaces above garages often show the worst temperature swings. You might notice one corner in a bedroom, or a corner of your living room feels different from the rest of the house.
During the winter, the floors and walls may feel cold, and you might need to have your thermostat much higher. In the summer, those same rooms can overheat quickly, especially in the afternoons.
Uneven Temperatures Throughout The Property
Check for temperature differences at the same time of day, and on different floors. Use a simple thermostat, or your thermostat readings to spot consistent gaps of several degrees between the rooms in our house.
Visible gaps, flattened insulation or signs of moisture in the loft often go with uneven temperatures. Pests and old insulation materials reduce performance, so inspect your loft safely, or hire a loft insulation professional if you see any damage.
Damp Patches Or Signs Of Moisture In The Loft
If you notice any dark and discolored patches on your insulation or roof timbers, water or condensation is likely present. These patches usually feel damp, and may darker after wet weather or whenever your heating is running.
Look out for mold or mildew on the joists, rafters and the underside of the roof felt. Black or grey spots mean there has been prolonged moisture, which can weaken the timber and insulation over time.
Check your insulation for soggy areas, clumping or sagging. Wet insulation loses its loft and thermal value, you could notice colder rooms, or get higher heating bills.
Smell the loft when you open the hatch. If you can smell a musty smell, or if it smells damp, it usually means there’s trapped moisture, even if you can’t see visible signs of damp.