Most people do not think about insulation until the house is cold. The good news is that your home usually tells you when something is wrong. The trick is knowing how to read the signs, and what to do about them.
This guide is about what you notice from inside the house. If you want to look at the condition of the insulation itself, see our companion post on signs it is time to replace your insulation.
Signs you can notice from inside
Rooms that never warm up
If one or two rooms stay cold however long the heater is on, there may be gaps or missing patches in the ceiling insulation above them, or nothing under the floor.
Cold floors
Bare feet on a chilly timber floor in the morning is a classic sign of no underfloor insulation, or insulation that has slipped or fallen down. Draughts rising through gaps in the floor point the same way.
A heater that runs and runs
If you are heating the house hard and it still never feels comfortable, heat may be escaping about as fast as you make it. Power bills are worth watching, but they also change with the weather, the price per unit and how many people are home, so use them as a prompt rather than proof.
Condensation and mould
Windows streaming with water in the morning, or mould in corners and on ceilings and walls, suggest cold surfaces and damp air. Insulation helps keep surfaces warmer, and a ground moisture barrier helps if damp is coming from the ground beneath the house. Ventilation matters too.
Hot upstairs rooms in summer
Rooms under the roof that bake in summer can mean the ceiling insulation is thin, patchy or missing.
A safe way to check
You do not need to climb into the roof to get a clue.
Ceiling. If there is a hatch, you can usually look in from the ladder without going further. Look for how much insulation there is, whether it covers the whole area, and whether it looks flat, wet, stained or chewed. Never step between the joists. The ceiling lining will not hold your weight, and there may be wiring in the space. Stay on the ladder, and use a torch.
Underfloor. If you can safely get to the access hatch under the house, look for insulation tight up against the floor, with no sagging, gaps or wet patches. Take care with spiders, wiring and tight spaces. If the space feels unsafe, do not go in.
If you see loose, fluffy material that looks nothing like batts, it may be old loose fill insulation. That needs removing before new insulation goes in. Our page on Insulfluff removal explains how we handle it.
Things that wear insulation out
Insulation is built to last, but it does not stay perfect forever. The usual culprits are:
- Compression or settling, which reduces how well it works
- Moisture from leaks or poor ventilation
- Rodents nesting in it
- Old products and thin layers that were fine when installed but are light by today’s standards
- Disturbance by tradespeople working in the ceiling or underfloor
What to do if you spot these signs
- Get a proper look. We offer a free consultation and assessment. Most are done through our online system, and we visit in person for complicated homes or if you ask.
- Decide where to start. A ceiling is usually the quickest job, and it often makes sense first. Underfloor insulation comes next in many homes.
- Get a clear quote. Ours is detailed, with no hidden fees.
For a 100m² home, our guide prices are $1,600 to $2,000 for ceiling insulation and $2,200 to $2,500 for underfloor insulation. Your quote depends on access and materials. Most ceilings take 1 to 3 hours, and a 100m² underfloor typically takes a day.
Insulation needs a look every so often
Like a roof or plumbing, insulation is not a fit-and-forget part of the house. A quick check now and then, and after any work in the ceiling or underfloor, catches problems early. You can read about the benefits in our post on what good insulation does for a New Zealand home.
Book your free assessment
If your home is showing any of these signs, get a free, no-obligation quote. We work across the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel and Hauraki, Gisborne and the East Coast, and the Rotorua and Taupō area. We aim to call you back within 48 hours, or you can call 027 482 0333.