5 Signs Your Home Insulation is Not Working Some insulations can lose performance over time, sustain damage or simply no longer meet updated building codes. It’s an issue that can be costly, because if your home’s insulation isn’t doing its job, you could be wasting money and resources. You don’t have to be a trained professional to know you have a problem. Here are several signs that your insulation is lacking: 1. Energy bills & High energy bills are the biggest red flag, especially relative to the size, age or condition of the home. If you have a run-away energy bill, your insulation may need to be upgraded. This can be the case, even in a newer home. 2. Drafts & Do you need to put on a sweater even with the heat on, or does your air conditioner run incessantly without making enough of a difference? That’s a sign of a deficiency in your building envelope. 3. Inconsistent temperatures & Is it warm in one room, but cold in another? Are your walls or interior closets cold to the touch? It’s possible that while your whole home may not need attention, certain rooms may need to be addressed. 4. Condition of insulating materials & Consider the age of your insulation. Would it stand up to today’s building codes? Is it in good shape or is it crumbly? If your insulation has degraded or isn’t performing, it’s time for an upgrade. But be careful, as certain types of older insulation, such as Vermiculite insulation, may contain asbestos. If you’re unsure, do not disturb it and hire a professional to conduct testing and/or removal. This should not be a do-it-yourself job. 5. You detect pests and/or moisture. Moisture is an even bigger obstacle to optimal thermal performance, as some types of insulation can sag or collapse when damp, leaving voids and causing air to flow in and out of the building envelope. While some solutions may be more complicated, requiring the opening of the existing wall cavities, others can be addressed more easily. The best way to improve thermal performance and increase energy efficiency is to upgrade attic insulation. Laying Comfortbatt insulation over existing material to achieve a minimum depth of 16 inches, or an R-value of R50, is a simple DIY project that can generate immediate results. To fully assess your home and explore remediation solutions, consider hiring a professional home energy auditor to evaluate your home’s energy performance. Even in a new home, the results may be surprising. MetroCreative Connection Perfect continued from page 7 helpful,” said James, a Morton Buildings hobby garage owner from suburban Nashville. “They helped me design the building, helped me put the things in it that I wanted like the heating, the cooling, the insulation and all the things I was looking for. So I think Morton building is a very good building and I would do it again.” Morton’s commitment to its customer doesn’t end when your building is complete. Our non-prorated, non-passthrough warranties ensure your Morton will be at its best now and for many generations to come. Our warranties protect against the wear and tear your building will endure, including snow damage, wind damage, roof leaks and paint fading. The warranties are the best in the business and are handled inhouse, including labor. Thanks to our state-ofthe-art materials and quality craftsmanship, Morton’s buildings have braved the elements and the test of time. Morton owners take pride in their buildings, and it shows. “Having a good guarantee and a warranty and a network that I know I could count on is, to me, a big deal, Morton owner Nelson said of his facility. “I don’t want to have to worry about it every two or three years, either having to paint it or fix it or something’s gone wrong and now it won’t work. It was very important to us to have a good … sales team behind it. Plus we know that if we make a phone call, they’ll be out here to fix it.” “If you came up with one word to describe the Morton experience, it would be quality,” said John, a Morton owner from Tennessee that built a garage to house his RV. “It was a very quality process. The salesman was very professional. The gentlemen that installed it and built it were very professional and very quality-driven. The end product is a very quality product.” Morton is eager to make the building you’ve always dreamed of a reality. With more than 100 locations nationwide, we are not hard to find. Editorial provided by MortonBuildings TODAY’S HOME - Spring 2016 13