DIY Insulation Evaluation

Basic Information

Name

Email Address

Phone Number

City and State OR Zip Code

About Your Home

What Year Was Your Home Built?

What Year Was Your HVAC System Installed?

Have You Ever Updated Your Insulation?

Yes

No

If So, What Year?

Checking Your Attic

Attics are one of the most common places for insulation issues. For this section, you'll need attic access and a yard stick or measuring tape.

Do You Have Access to Your Attic?

Yes

No

What Kind of Insulation is In Your Attic?

If you have batt or blown insulation, push your measuring tape inside it to measure. The far end of the stick should be pressing against the inside of the roof.

How Thick (in inches) is Your Insulation?

If your batt insulation is at least 12" or your blown insulation is 12-14" then your insulation is up to code. **Note** Just because your insulation is up to code, doesn't mean it's optimal. There may still be room for improvement.

Are There Holes in Your Insulation?

Yes

No

Are There Voids in Your Insulation, particularly around bath fans or can lights?

Yes

No

Holes in your insulation can indicate pests of some kind in your insulation.

Attic Ventilation And HVAC

Do You Have Adequate Ventilation?

Yes

No

Do you have a gable vent, ridge vent or attic fan to help mechanically move hot air out?

Yes

No

Is Your HVAC System In The Attic?

Yes

No

Is All Ductwork Connected to Registers?

Yes

No

Is There Insulation On The Ductwork?

Yes

No

If So, Tell Us About What Condition It's In

Are joints in duct connected tightly, sealed and taped?

Yes

No

When Was the System Last Serviced?

Exterior Walls

It's important to check the quality and condition of the insulation in your walls regularly. The best way to do this is to remove an outlet cover and use a non-metallic object to inspect the insulation around it.

To check wall temperatures, you may need to invest in an infrared thermometer.

Are Windows Newly Insulated Double Pane Windows?

Yes

No

Are There Gaps or Cracks around Doors and Doorframes?

Yes

No

If you answered no to the first question or yes to the second, you may want to look at replacing or repairing your windows or doors to prevent escaped air.

Crawl Space or Cellar

Do You Have Access to Your Crawl Space?

Yes

No

Is Your Crawl Space Access Inside or Outside Your Home?

Inside

Outside

Does Your Crawl Space Have Any Insulation At All?

Yes

No

Is Your Fiberglass Insulation Tight to the Subfloor?

Yes

No

Are There Spider Webs on Your Insulation?

Yes

No

Do You Have a Vapor Barrier?

Yes

No

If your insulation isn't tight to the subfloor, then you're likely going to have air escaping and your floors will be cold.

If you see spiderwebs on your insulation or don't have an adequate vapor barrier, you likely have too much moisture in your crawl space.

If your insulation isn't tight to the subfloor, then you're likely going to have air escaping and your floors will be cold.

In both of these scenarios, you likely need additional (or replacement) insulation.

I Would Like a Representative from Virginia Foam Insulators to Contact Me About New Insulation

Yes

No

Check Your Own Insulation