Insulation in your home or business helps to keep your space comfortable, lower your heating bills and make your space more energy-efficient. Many homeowners and business owners neglect to check their level of insulation, particularly in places like the attic. Thus, if you’ve been considering adding more insulation to your space, you may be surprised to discover that old insulation already exists.
This might lead you to ask the question, “Do I need to remove old insulation before installing new insulation?” The short answer to this question is, no—almost all of the time, you do not have to remove previously existing insulation before adding the new material. Insulation removal in Ontario can be very time-consuming and expensive, so it’s important that you fully understand when removal might be necessary, if it is at all.
When you might require insulation removal in Ontario
There are a few specific instances in which you will need to remove existing insulation before installing new insulation in your space. These types of circumstances occur when the existing insulation has been damaged by fire, moisture, mold or rodents.
If the insulation has been wet or exposed to high levels of moisture, there is a chance that it can grow or already has grown mold or mildew. In this case, you do not want to install new insulation on top of moldy insulation, because the mold will likely spread. Insulation removal will be necessary if mold exists.
Additionally, if rodents have infested the existing insulation, they will likely have left droppings and other unwelcome messes. If there is evidence of a previous or current infestation, the insulation will need to be removed and replaced.
Insulation removal in Ontario involves using a high-powered vacuum that removes the dust, debris and insulation material from the area without it entering your space. Sometimes, it is also possible to remove certain sections of the insulation that have been affected by mold or rodents without removing all of the old insulation, but this varies based on the situation.
Adding new insulation over old insulation
In almost all other circumstances, you should be able to install new insulation in your home or business on top of the existing insulation. Batt, rolled or loose-fill insulation can be installed on top of existing insulation without any problems. There are no chemical interactions caused by mixing insulations, so you and your family or employees will be safe.
Even though the insulation might look worn or battered, it is rarely necessary to remove old material unless it has been affected by the specific circumstances discussed above. In fact, adding new insulation on top of old insulation will give you a better R-value (resistance to heat flow) and save you money.
If you are looking for insulation installation or insulation removal in Ontario, contact Chase Insulation! We are experts at insulation installation and removal and have over 35 years of experience delivering quality service to homeowners and business owners. We offer a variety of insulation products and services and can handle even the toughest of jobs. Call us today for a free estimate!