A comprehensive house insulation assessment is the critical first step to achieving a more comfortable, energy-efficient home for Milwaukee, WI residents.
As trusted experts providing home performance and insulation services to southeastern Wisconsin for over sevearal years, we at Intec understand the unique challenges faced by homeowners in our area when it comes to keeping their homes properly insulated.
We’ll dive into why a professional insulation assessment is so important, common issues we find, and the benefits you can expect by optimizing your home’s insulation.
As your local building performance specialists, we’re here to be your guide on the path to a cozier, more cost-effective home.
Assessing the Thermal Performance of Your Milwaukee Home
Evaluating how well your home retains heat and resists heat transfer is key to determining if your insulation is up to par.
A house insulation assessment provides that vital analysis of your home’s thermal performance.
The assessment process involves several methods and tools used by trained professionals:
Worker applying spray foam insulation to a roof for energy efficiency
- Infrared scanning to identify temperature variations and locate hidden air leaks
- Blower door testing to measure the airtightness of your home’s envelope
- Visual inspections to check insulation levels and spot installation defects
- Evaluation of your HVAC system, doors, windows, and other components
Assessment Method | Purpose | Benefits |
---|---|---|
1. Infrared Scanning | Identify temperature variations | Locate hidden air leaks |
2. Blower Door Testing | Measure envelope airtightness | Quantify air leakage rate |
3. Visual Inspection | Check insulation levels | Spot installation issues |
With professional diagnostic equipment and the knowledge of what to look for, an insulation contractor can thoroughly assess the thermal performance of your house and pinpoint areas for improvement better than the average homeowner.
Identifying Common Insulation Issues in Milwaukee’s Older Homes
Given the age of Milwaukee’s housing stock, many homes have outdated or insufficient insulation.
Some widespread problems we encounter include:
- Inadequately insulated attics, walls and crawl spaces
- Settled or damaged insulation materials
- Gaps and voids allowing air leakage
- Lack of air sealing around penetrations
- Old windows and doors with poor thermal resistance
Insulation Issue | Areas Affected | Consequences |
---|---|---|
1. Insufficient Levels | Attics, Walls, Floors | Heat Loss/Gain, High Bills |
2. Uneven Distribution | Attics, Walls | Inconsistent Temperatures |
3. Air Leaks Around Fixtures | Recessed Lights, Vents | Drafts, Moisture Issues |
Many homes also have mismatched insulation from various renovation projects over the decades.
Improperly installed batts, gaps around pipes/vents, and compressed insulation all undermine thermal performance.
Visual signs of inadequate insulation include:
- Uneven snow melt on your roof
- Icicles and ice dams at the eaves
- Cold drafts near exterior walls
- High heating and cooling bills
If you notice any of these red flags, it’s worth getting a professional insulation assessment to uncover and address the root causes.
Finding Cost-Effective Insulation Solutions for Milwaukee Homeowners
With an insulation assessment pinpointing the weaknesses in your home’s thermal envelope, the next step is exploring upgrade options that fit your budget.
An experienced insulation contractor can recommend the most cost-effective solutions tailored to your needs.
Some key factors in choosing the optimal insulation include:
- R-value (thermal resistance) appropriate for our climate
- Material properties (air permeability, moisture resistance, fire rating)
- Existing structure and accessibility
- Costs of material and installation
- Estimated energy savings and payback period
Insulation Type | R-Value per Inch | Cost per Sq Ft |
---|---|---|
1. Fiberglass Batts | 2.2 – 2.7 | $0.30 – $1.50 |
2. Cellulose (Blown-In) | 3.2 – 3.8 | $1.00 – $2.00 |
3. Open-Cell Spray Foam | 3.6 – 3.8 | $1.50 – $2.50 |
Adding insulation with a higher R-value doesn’t always mean bigger savings if the installation is shoddy or the material is ill-suited for the space.
A house insulation assessment takes a whole-home approach to find the optimal insulation plan for your needs and budget.
There are also rebates, incentives and financing programs that can help offset the upfront costs of insulation upgrades, such as Focus on Energy here in Wisconsin.
Intec assists customers in securing all the rebates and incentives they qualify for.
Signs Your Milwaukee Home Needs Better Insulation
In addition to the visual clues mentioned earlier, there are some other indicators that your home could benefit from an insulation retrofit, such as:
- Rooms that are too hot in the summer or cold in the winter
- Inconsistent temperatures between rooms or levels
- High humidity and condensation on windows
- Constantly running furnace or air conditioner
- Unusually high energy usage compared to similar homes
Analyzing your energy bills is one way to gauge your home’s insulation performance.
If your heating and cooling costs are much higher than your neighbors or jump significantly from one year to the next, poor insulation is likely a factor.
However, the only way to know for sure if insufficient insulation is the culprit is with a professional energy audit that includes a comprehensive insulation assessment.
With that data, you can make informed decisions about the most impactful and cost-effective upgrades for your home.
Benefits of a House Insulation Assessment for Milwaukee Homeowners
Having your home’s insulation professionally evaluated is the key to unlocking a host of benefits:
- Improving overall comfort
- Equalizing temperatures throughout your home
- Reducing drafts and cold spots
- Lowering heating and cooling costs
- Lightening the load on your HVAC equipment
- Minimizing outdoor noise infiltration
- Controlling moisture and preventing mold/mildew
- Enhancing indoor air quality
- Increasing your home’s marketability and value
A more efficient, well-insulated home is also a greener home.
By wasting less energy, you reduce the carbon footprint of your house and consume fewer natural resources.
Insulation improvements are eco-friendly updates that keep giving back for the life of your home.
Why We Think This Is Important
At Intec, we believe every homeowner deserves to be comfortable, healthy and efficiently use energy at home.
For nearly four decades, we’ve helped over 31,000 southeastern Wisconsin residents assess and improve their insulation as part of our whole-home energy services.
Our process starts with a thorough house insulation assessment – it’s the essential first step to prescribing the most effective insulation solutions for your particular needs.
Attic insulated with cellulose blown-in insulation for energy efficiency
Using the latest building science and technology, our experts conduct a top-to-bottom evaluation to identify problem areas and opportunities to bolster your thermal envelope.
With our assessment and recommendations, you can feel confident you’re making smart investments in your home’s comfort, efficiency and value.
Let us help you transform your house into a cozier, more economical place to live with insulation improvements custom-fit for your home.
Contact Intec today to schedule your professional house insulation assessment and take control of your home comfort and energy costs.
Your satisfaction is guaranteed!
FAQs
How can I assess the thermal performance of my home in Milwaukee, WI?
The best way is to schedule a professional whole-home energy audit that includes a detailed insulation assessment. Trained specialists use infrared cameras, blower door tests, and visual inspections to analyze your home’s insulation performance and identify improvement areas.
What are common insulation issues in older Milwaukee homes?
Older homes often have insufficient attic insulation, uninsulated walls, air leaks around windows and doors, and gaps or settling in old insulation materials. Inadequate insulation allows heat to escape in winter and infiltrate in summer, compromising comfort and efficiency.
What is the most cost-effective insulation solution for homeowners in Milwaukee?
The most cost-effective insulation depends on factors like your home’s age, structure and existing insulation status. An insulation professional can recommend upgrades that offer the best return on investment, prioritizing air sealing and improving insulation in areas with the greatest heat loss.
How do I know if my house needs better insulation?
Signs your insulation needs improvement include high energy bills, uneven temperatures, drafts, ice dams and rooms that are hard to keep warm/cool. An energy assessment with a insulation evaluation is the best way to diagnose where your home’s insulation is underperforming.
What are the benefits of a house insulation assessment?
With a professional insulation assessment, you get a detailed report of your home’s insulation weak spots and a plan to cost-effectively improve comfort, cut energy waste, reduce heating/cooling costs and enhance your home’s value. It’s the start to a more efficient, cozy and economical home.