Nu-Wool in Existing Homes: Retrofit

Any one of the following conditions can be an indicator of inadequate insulation:

• Heating and cooling bills are high
• Rooms in the house feel drafty
• Snow melts quickly off the roof
• The furnace or air conditioner runs constantly
• Outside noise is audible inside the house
• Icicles and ice damming occur on the roof

Ice Dams

Ice dams not only indicate inadequate insulation, they can cause damage to the structure of the house. Heat escaping from the house through a poorly insulated attic warms the shingles on the roof, melting the snow, which runs down the roof to the eaves. Since the eaves overhang the house and are cold, the melted snow freezes when it reaches the eaves. When enough ice has formed at the eaves, it begins to stop or dam additional water from draining off the roof. The ice dam eventually grows under the shingles, causing melted snow to enter the ceilings and walls.

Determining Additional Insulation Needs

The best way to determine if you need additional insulation is to measure the depth of insulation currently in your attic. If there is less than R-49, (19 inches of blown fiber glass, or 12-13 inches of cellulose), you could benefit by adding more insulation to your attic.

If your attic has ample insulation and your home still feels drafty and cold in the winter, or too warm in the summer, the exterior walls may not be well insulated. Basements and crawl spaces need proper amounts of insulation as well. Of course, doors and windows should also be checked for air tightness.

Adding Nu-Wool Insulation will help keep the heat where it belongs — in the house in cold weather and outside the house in hot weather.