Summertime in Duluth, MN, is great for so many things—visiting Lake Superior, exploring a hiking trail, and driving up the north shore, to name a few. However, it also comes with problems. One of these problems can wreak havoc on your insulation. There are several ways moisture can negatively impact the insulation of your home or commercial building.
Humid conditions and drafts
With humid weather, we can experience a lot of condensation. When hot, moist outside air comes into contact with cool surfaces inside, it turns into water. This can happen on doors, windows, walls, etc. Warm air can sneak in in a variety of ways, including poor ventilation and drafts from doors, windows, attics, and crawl spaces.
Whether excessive moisture seeps into your insulation or the humid air gets trapped around your insulation, it will reduce its thermal efficiency (r-value) as well as promote mold and mildew growth. So, not only will your insulation stop working as well as it’s supposed to, but it can also be the reason you begin to feel incredibly sick.
Roof leaks will ruin insulation
Summer brings a lot of rain—something we desperately need, especially after weeks of high temperatures and relentless sunshine. Unfortunately, if you have a leaky roof or broken/missing siding, the water will also hydrate the inside of your home.
Similar to the negative consequences of humid air, water will damage the insulation within your walls. The r-value will decrease and you’ll be potentially exposed to harmful mold and mildew growth.
Damp basements
One thing Duluth is known for is its damp basements. Whether it just gets muggy down there, or you suffer from poor drainage, water seepage, or occasional flooding, the moisture level will impact the insulation. It might not happen immediately, but years and years of damp summers will eventually reduce the r-value and increase the risk of mold and mildew growing in between the walls.
Working with Northstar Insulating
Proper installation and maintenance, good ventilation, and mitigating water infiltration will help extend the life of your insulation. However, it may be too late. If it’s been 20 years or longer since the insulation in your home or building has been replaced, then it may be time to upgrade. Additionally, spray foam insulation is our specialty and can provide an extra layer of protection from unwanted moisture and provide additional benefits.
Contact us today to set up a free inspection!