It's possible to insulate your house too much, to the point that it can be detrimental to your health. The goal of home insulation is to hermetically seal the interior of the house, but if it's sealed too tightly with too many layers of insulation, moisture can get trapped inside those layers and cause mold to grow. But can you over-insulate your attic? Could your current isolation be too much? While overinsulated attics aren't as common as underinsulated attics, it's possible to place so much insulation in the attic that it will have a negative effect. Excessive insulation in the attic can cause the house to become too sealed and block ventilation grilles.
If the air flow is blocked, moisture cannot escape. If moisture builds up in the attic and comes into contact with warm air, it can allow mold to form, which can lead to serious respiratory problems in people. Too much insulation isn't a problem in itself. However, there may be a drawback if the insulating material blocks the ventilation grilles. Therefore, it is important to allow fresh air to enter the attic to prevent moisture from accumulating.
Attic vents allow warm air to be expelled more naturally, replacing it with colder outside air. It's essential to take proper care and make sure that your home's ventilation grilles have free air circulation. Otherwise, it could lead to condensation, moisture-related issues, wood rot, and mold. A sealed or unventilated attic has the insulation installed on the roof and not on the roof plane, which makes the attic space the conditioned area of the house. When homeowners learn that their home doesn't have enough insulation, they often install more insulation in order to reduce their utility bills. If you have well-installed attic insulation with a sufficient R-value and are still not satisfied with the results, you may want to consider installing a radiant barrier instead. In conclusion, it is possible to over-insulate your attic and cause problems such as mold growth and blocked ventilation grilles.
It is important to ensure that your home's ventilation grilles have free air circulation in order to prevent moisture from accumulating. If you have attic insulation with an R-value of 38 and you still want your home to be more energy efficient, consider installing a radiant barrier instead.
