The right level of home insulation is important for maintaining comfort levels and keeping utility bills under control. You should pay attention to the following five signs that your house might need better insulation.

Noise

Ideally, a house should have enough insulation that it'll block most noises from the outside from getting into your house when all the windows are closed. Even if your house is close to a roadway or active sidewalk, you should have a fairly quiet experience in a well-insulated home. If noise regularly finds its way to you, then there might be gaps in the insulation. Also, a house with insufficient insulation may just not block enough even if there aren't any gaps.

Temperatures Discrepancies in Different Rooms

A properly insulated house should have even temperatures throughout. There might be some difference between the first and second floors just because heat rises. However, as long as there isn't some obvious factor like a closed heating vent in one room, you shouldn't encounter noticeable discrepancies on one side of the house versus the other.

If the home insulation is uneven, though, that could cause some discrepancies. Bear in mind that birds and rodents sometimes remove insulation to get into homes or to use as nesting materials. Even if the house once had consistent insulation, something may have intervened in the meantime.

Ice Dams on the Roof

As heat leaks from a house on cold days, it can cause snow on the roof to melt. Oftentimes, the melted water refreezes when it gets into the gutters. Enough refreezing can build an ice dam. Also, you might notice large and potentially dangerous icicles at the edges of a roof that doesn't have gutters.

Mold

Houses with poor insulation can also have trouble with mold. The same air that causes draftiness in a house can also bring in moisture. Especially if this moisture flow is interacting with warm air from inside the house, it can create a mold bomb.

You might notice mold along the ceilings or walls, especially on the upper floors. Also, a lack of insulation along the base of the house could encourage mold in the basement or even the floors of the ground level.

Rising Energy Bills

Running the heater or air conditioner to keep up with a drafty or moist house will balloon your utility bills. If you see a big energy bill that doesn't correspond with something like an unusual hot or cold spell, the insulation could be the problem.

For more information, contact a home insulation company near you.