What people keep running into with insulation
Complaints tagged insulation, each raised by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
34 recurring problems · 226 people · 12 forums we read
Raised more than once
Most people first.
- 31Should I use foam or caulk to seal gaps in exterior walls?Homeowners dealing with pest infestations struggle to choose between materials like foam, caulk, or netting because they are unsure what will actually block the openings in stucco and brick. Without a reliable way to securely close large gaps, pests continue to get inside and leave droppings, rendering temporary fixes ineffective.
- 17How to fix a door that is sagging or rubbing against the frameDoors shift and sag because houses settle or hinges loosen over time, causing latches to miss their strikes and edges to catch on the frame. This misalignment prevents doors from closing or latching properly without forcing them or carving out the frame.
- 17Why does my brand new AC not cool as well as the old one?New cooling systems often feel less effective because installers may misconfigure airflow settings or fail to balance multi-room temperatures properly. This leaves homeowners dealing with rooms that stay significantly warmer than they were with older equipment, causing regret and doubt over the replacement choice.
- 17Why do freezeless outdoor faucets still freeze and burst?Freezeless sillcocks rely on a slight outward pitch and gravity to drain remaining water after the valve is closed. When installed with an accidental backward slope toward the house, water stays trapped inside the pipe, causing it to freeze and burst behind finished walls.
- 14Why is my ductwork dripping condensation inside the walls?Ductwork running from unconditioned spaces into wall cavities collects condensation on its exterior, causing water to drip into walls. This moisture leads to severe fungal growth and structural damage that often requires tearing out the walls.
- 13How to clean mold on drywall or know when to cut it outSurface sprays only treat top-layer growth, leaving hidden spores inside soaked walls to spread further. Trying to guess whether to patch or cut out the drywall stops people from stopping the damage before it ruins the structure.
- 13Best way to seal gaps around pipes under the sink?Sealing holes around sink pipes blocks pests and improves appearance, but homeowners worry that materials like expanding foam will interfere with pipe access or cause expansion issues above a crawl space. This uncertainty prevents people from safely closing the gaps without risking future plumbing complications.
- 12Are powered attic roof vents actually worth it?Powered roof fans and alternative vents can cause confusion because people aren't sure if they live up to the hype or might actually harm attic airflow. Without knowing how these options compare to traditional whirlybirds or whether mismatched intakes will ruin the balance, homeowners struggle to choose the best ventilation setup during a reroof.
- 11Why won't my AC cool the house when it's extremely hot outside?Older air conditioners and heat pumps struggle to overcome extreme outdoor temperatures above 95 degrees, causing them to run continuously without reaching the thermostat setpoint. This constant runtime leaves indoor temperatures several degrees too high, preventing the home from staying comfortable during severe heatwaves.
- 8How to find and handle hidden mold behind wallsHidden mold behind drywall requires immediate verification and remediation, but sealed walls prevent you from accessing the opening to check the severity. Without knowing the next steps, homeowners panic about safety and air quality while trying to decide whether invasive repairs are truly necessary.
- 7How to seal window gaps around an air conditioner against insectsWindow air conditioners often leave wide gaps and openings that allow flying insects like horseflies and wasps to enter the room. Makeshifts like duct-taped fabric unstick over time, leaving tenants struggling to properly insulate irregular windows like jalousies or units that do not fit standard openings.
- 6Why is my attic apartment so hot in summer and cold in winter?Attic apartments trap extreme heat from the roof while sharing a single HVAC sensor located elsewhere in the house, leaving the top floor sweltering at 80 degrees or freezing at 64. Because the central system cannot properly regulate the space, tenants are left struggling with unmanageable indoor temperatures and direct drafts from blowing vents.
- 5How to frame and insulate basement wallsBuilding walls flat on the ground is easier, but varying distances between the floor and ceiling joists often force you to toe-nail each stud in place. You also must decide whether existing partial insulation is sufficient or if you need to install rigid foam and a moisture barrier before framing can begin.
- 4How to stop heat loss through an attic hatch or open carportHeat escapes when there is no physical barrier separating an insulated home from open spaces like a carport. Common fixes like spray foam or relying on gravity to hold an attic door down often fail to create a tight seal. This allows hot air to leak directly into interior closets and leaves extreme cold or hot spots around the access hatch.
- 4How to ventilate an attic with no open soffits?Older houses often lack open soffits and inlet air, leaving attics with outlet vents but no way for fresh air to enter. This traps heat and humidity, causes the second story to run nonstop, and leads to ice damming during winter.
- 4Can you use fiberglass insulation in a basement after flooding?Combining foam board and fiberglass insulation is a common DIY approach after tearing out flood-damaged materials, but mixing insulation types requires careful planning around moisture. Using a moisture-resistant alternative like rockwool prevents the insulation from getting ruined if water ever works its way through the foundation again.
- 4How to fill a 4-inch gap under an acrylic tubStandard tutorials recommend one to two inches of mortar, but a four-inch gap requires an excessive amount of material that is heavy and likely to crack. Because plumbers often refuse to install a mortar base, DIYers are forced to bridge this deep space themselves without proper guidance, leading to structural sagging or failed installations.
- 4What questions should I ask when replacing old windows and doors?First-time homeowners replacing old, original windows and doors often don't know what questions to ask or what to expect during the process. They face issues like rooms getting too warm in the summer and cold in the winter, and deal with problematic materials like unopenable glass block windows that offer poor thermal insulation and failing seals.
- 3Is spray foam insulation bad for a roof deck?Contractors often advise against spray foam on roof decks because trapped moisture creates hidden rot and makes future roof repairs significantly harder. This conflict leaves homeowners struggling to weigh energy savings against the risk of expensive structural damage.
- 3Why is the floor by my windows freezing and wet?Floors suspended over open air act as a thermal bridge, dropping surface temperatures to near freezing even when the rest of the room is fully heated. This extreme cold turns the flooring into a condensation magnet, leaving floors soaking wet up to six feet away from the windows. While homeowners associations often dismiss this as normal winter condensation, the severe dampness and freezing temperatures are not standard behavior.
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Topics that keep appearing on the same problems — not topics with similar names.