March 4, 2021
Have you ever taken a walk through your neighborhood a few days after a big storm and realized that yours is the only house with no snow on the roof?
Sure, the sun may hit your roof at a different angle, but that doesn’t mean snow should be melting significantly faster on your roof than it does on the house next door. And while faster snowmelt may save you from having to shovel off your roof, it can also be a sign of poor attic insulation, which isn’t something any Vermont or New Hampshire homeowner wants to deal with for long, especially in the dead of winter.
What Happens When Your Insulation Isn’t Working?
Your home may not be able to speak to you, but there are other ways it can warn you when something’s wrong. And if you know what to look for, you can resolve problems with your attic insulation before they turn into serious issues. Here are some of the most common signs of poor attic insulation:
Fast and Inconsistent Snowmelt on the Roof
When you don’t have enough insulation in your attic, heat from your living space rises up into your attic and then seeps out through your roof, causing snow to melt. If you have adequate insulation in some parts of your attic, but others are lacking, snow will melt faster in the poorly insulated areas, and you’ll see patches of snow on your roof.
Ice Dams
When the snow on your roof melts, it turns into water. That water will flow down your roof until it reaches a colder area, usually near your eaves, where it will refreeze, creating a dam. Now, your gutters are blocked, and future snowmelt won’t be able to drain away. As a result, water will pool on your roof, and eventually, seep inside your home.
Mold and Mildew
As water leaks into a warm attic, it creates a hot, wet climate that’s perfect for mold growth. Mold and mildew can eat away at your home’s construction, and they’re also extremely harmful to your family’s health. If you see black stains or white fuzz growing in your attic, you have a moisture problem, and it could very well be caused by poor insulation.
High Energy Bills
Insulation helps you keep conditioned air contained. Without it, the heat your HVAC system creates will escape your home, and cold outside air will be able to get in. This makes it extremely difficult for your HVAC system to keep your home warm, leading to wasted energy and wasted money.
Vermont Foam Insulation Can Fix Your Insulation Problem
Take a look around your home. Check out your roof and your attic. Review your energy bills. Do all signs point to an insulation problem? If the answer is yes, it’s time to call Vermont Foam Insulation—the local insulation contractor Southern Vermont and Southwestern New Hampshire homeowners trust.
Our highly experienced team can evaluate your home, determine whether your attic insulation is the problem, and recommend a solution tailored to your home and needs. We install several types of insulation, including cellulose insulation and spray foam insulation, and we’ll ensure your new home insulation is as effective as possible by sealing air leaks before installing it.
If you have any questions about insulating your Vermont or New Hampshire home, like “does snow on the roof mean good insulation?” or “why are there so many icicles on my roof?”, you can look to our expert team for answers. We’re here to help with all of your home insulation needs and you can count on us to get the job done right.