NORTH BROWARD & BOCA Blog

Does Insulation Suffocate My Home in North Broward & Boca?

As a homeowner, you may have heard that your house needs to have the ability to "breathe". As such, closing up your home with insulation and air sealing can feel like a contradiction to this need. Won't your house feel stuffy and suffocating if there isn't any ventilation and airflow? While it's true that your house needs to have proper ventilation in order to feel comfortable, this doesn't necessarily mean you should neglect insulation and air sealing needs. 

Air leakage isn't the same thing as ventilation, just like an open window doesn't necessarily cool down your home in the summer months. The misconception that your home shouldn't be sealed too tightly is actually a misinformed myth about how your house needs to ventilate properly. First, it's important to understand the real purpose of insulation and air sealing. Then it may be a little more clear as to how insulation can actually contribute to a house that not only has proper airflow but feels more comfortable and cozy throughout the year. 

The Purpose of Insulation

Insulation is meant to help keep your home comfortable through temperature regulation. The material installed in the house should help reduce the rate of heat transfer, which is how heat enters and exits your building envelope. Consider how soundproofing stops sound waves from penetrating surfaces - the more you add to the room, the less noise escapes. Similarly, if your home has properly installed insulation and good coverage, heat is less likely to travel throughout your home. 

If you're noticing one side of the house is hotter than the other or you're experiencing uncomfortable drafts, it's likely that your insulation and air sealing are of poor quality. With the help of a local industry expert and a thorough evaluation, you can determine whether the insulation material is in need of removal and reinstallation or if there are too many gaps and holes throughout the house that cause problematic air leaks. The main question, though, is whether packing in new insulation and sealing these leaks will make your home feel "suffocated".

How to Prevent a Suffocated Household

It’s important to note that while you can end up packing too much insulation and air sealing into your home to prevent ventilation, it’s actually quite difficult to do so. Your home would have to turn into an overstuffed ravioli to become truly “suffocated” by air sealing and insulation. But what goes into ensuring your home has the right type and amount of material to avoid this? 

Finding the Right Material

Packing your home with a random selection of material can be the equivalent of walking through a buffet with a blindfold on. You can end up mixing mashed potatoes with shrimp and putting your gravy over a spring roll; it creates an incompatible mixture of foods you may not even end up eating. It’s crucial to have the right material in the right place for your home. For example, in some climates, closed-cell spray foam is better to have in between ceiling joists than fiberglass batts. 

When it comes to choosing the right material, an insulation contractor can help you and your household find insulation that not only works for your budget but also keeps your home comfortable and safe. To the untrained eye, it can look like your attic is overflowing with blown-in cellulose covering the floor; however, with an understanding of R-value and the needs of a house in your climate zone, a professional knows the right amount to add of each type so there’s the right balance with insulation in other areas of your home. 

More or Less? 

Solving your insulation needs is about more than just packing on additional material. If deteriorated insulation isn’t removed, you run the risk of creating the overstuffed ravioli effect we discussed earlier. An experienced insulation technician will be able to determine what areas need to have insulation removed and reinstalled instead of simply packing in new insulation over old and useless material. 

This is the risk many homeowners run into when trying to DIY a project without consulting local industry experts. Especially if you’re working with batt or blown-in insulation, it may look like you only need one or two inches applied onto the old material. However, continuously packing on new layers can reduce ventilation without actually stopping the transfer of heat. 

Monitor for Moisture

One of the main problems that can make your home feel suffocated after an installation is trapped moisture. It’s important to ensure the area you’re insulating is properly cleared and prepared so no water vapor is trapped under the new insulation, especially for Florida homes. With too many layers installed, moisture that’s already trapped under or within the insulation layers doesn’t have room to clear out; with high humidity afflicting many areas throughout Florida, it can lead to a stuffy household. 

Trapped moisture can also increase the risk of mold growth throughout your home. This is why consulting an insulation expert is crucial to reduce health hazards, even if you’re hoping to make it a DIY project. Not only will they be able to more accurately inspect the current condition of the material already installed, but they’ll also be able to tell if the current insulation has a moisture problem that needs to be addressed before moving forward with reinstalling insulation. 

Avoid High Costs and Maintenance Fees

What some homeowners may not realize is that a safe and comfortable home can contribute to everything from your physical health to your mental well-being. Components like a clean desk, tidy room, and comfortable space significantly affect your ability to function throughout your day-to-day processes. It's important that your home is not only inviting for visitors but for you and your household as well.

Although we can’t necessarily help you keep your kitchen spotless, our team at Koala Insulation of North Broward and Boca is here to help make your home as comfortable as possible. With years of experience in the industry and working with homeowners struggling with drafts, irregular temperatures, and a stuffy living environment, we understand the needs and priorities of households in Florida. For more information on how we can work with your schedule and budget, contact us today for a free evaluation.