how often do you have to replace insulation in your home, both attic and crawlspace?

Answer 1

The question here bears a bit more thought. Why do you feel that your insulation needs repleneshment?
Are you suddenly finding new comfort issues in what was once a comfortable zone?
Is your concern more monetary as you see your cost of heating/cooling soar?
Has there been a change, moisture,renovation, or such which caused the concern?

All insulations tend to lose their original effectivness over time due to settling, compression and exterior changes to their enviroment such as air leakage across and through the materials.
Determining which and what can be difficult without experience and good diagnostic skills.

Properly installed and secured, insulation of almost any type will retain an effective R-value for typically as long as you own the building. Most are neither.
A comprehensive energy analysis or audit (Not the glance drive by type typically done by a local utility) can assess the effectivness of your existing insulation, detect problem areas and offer cost effective measures to correct the issues. Thermal imaging can find gaps and voids left by the original installation and sag/settling that can occur with time. And Pressure diagnostics can pinpoint air infiltration sources allowing you to control wind wash.

The end result is that you then have a clear idea of what is happening, how to correct itand an idea of not only how much it will cost, but how much you will potentially save.

As a rule of thumb for you, in your attic, does the insulation look evenly disbursed without gaps or low spots? Do you note any areas where the insulation is notably discolored? Pink and yellow are good, black/brown/grey indicate air moving through the insulation, basically converting it to an air filter instead of a thermal trap.
In your crawlspace, is the insulation evenly disbursed, supported and not hanging loose or have missing or fallen sections? Do you note a musty odor or see visible signs of moisture, either in the crawlspace itself or on the insulation...

Answer 2

Attic Insulation Replacement

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
how often do you have to replace insulation in your home, both attic and crawlspace?

Answer 4

Fiber glass wool, a foam of some kind, or the treated paper stuff? The first 2, no, they don't need to be replaced. If they have gotten wet, or have been disturbed, you might want to re-arrange them, but not replace. The blown in paper stuff does deteriorate some, so adding more would be a good idea. This stuff is found in walls, and in attic spaces. The first 2 would just need more added to it if you want to improve the 'R' factor of the insulation. The 'R' factor is a rating for how well it retains heat, or cooling.

Answer 5

The facing will trap moisture and cause HUGE problems if left like this. The facing is also known as a moisture barrier and should be up against the drywall on the ceiling of the top floor only. Rip the backing off the insulation and lay out the now unfaced insulation as evenly as you can. I saw one house condemned because of mold that grew in between two moisture barriers. Do not disturb the moisture barrier under the builder installed insulation.

Answer 6

You should never have to change insulation in a home, unless it is damaged by fire, smoke, or water. Some insulation types will compress over time (like cellulose, which is chemically treated newspaper and absorbs moisture), and may never an additional spray-over layer applied.

Answer 7

"Never" is a big word. Insulation does compact and settle so, with time it should be checked through, for any additional fillings.

Answer 8

Never. It does not deteriorate.