June 3, 2024

Managing Wet Insulation and Storm Damage

Few things are more devastating than a weather event invading your home. And it can be overwhelming to deal with – where do you start when a tree has come crashing through your roof or your home taking on water after a violent Houston storm? Amongst the countless structural issues you may be facing, insulation is an important but often neglected component to monitor and repair after a severe weather event.

At EZ Attic Insulation, we have been serving Houston for over a decade, providing customized insulation solutions to 1,000 homes and counting. With our family-oriented culture and commitment to excellence, we have solidified ourselves as Houston’s Insulation Experts.

So, while we’re devastated to see homeowner’s in our community face hardships due to the unpredictable weather, we are hopeful that this information will help get your recovery project started.

Assessing the Water Damage to Your Insulation

When dealing with wet insulation after a storm, it’s essential to understand the various types of insulation commonly found in homes and how they react to water damage. Different materials have unique characteristics that determine whether they can be dried and reused or if they need to be replaced entirely.

We’ll break down the most common types of insulation, the signs of weather damage to look out for, and what to do with the affected insulation.

Assessing Spray Foam Insulation

Spray foam insulation boasts high R-values and excellent air sealing properties. One of its lesser-known benefits is moisture management, especially with closed-cell spray foam. Its dense structure resists water penetration, unlike many other insulation types. Open-cell spray foam, while more porous and able to absorb water slowly, still outperforms many other materials in this regard.

However, even though spray foam insulation has high water resistance, extreme conditions like storms, which can cause leaks in your attic or flooding in your walls, can result in more water exposure than this insulation can withstand. This is especially true if moisture is allowed to collect for longer periods of time.

How to Know if Your Insulation is Spray Foam

Spray foam insulation is a dense, foam-like material that fills cavities and crevices.
It can be either open-cell (softer, spongy texture) or closed-cell (rigid, dense texture).
Spray foam is often visible in attics, crawl spaces, or behind removed drywall.

What Happens to Wet Spray Foam Insulation

Water can pool on top of the foam or absorb into it, leading to visible swelling. This can lead to damage to surrounding structural areas.
Mold or mildew can grow, leading to indoor air quality concerns. A musty odor and discoloration of the material will accompany this.
It’s R-Value (it’s thermal resistance) can be compromised, leading to less insulating properties per square inch.

What to Do With Wet Spray Foam Insulation

In the event that your insulation does take on moisture, it’s important to take action. Here’s some direction:

Identify the Source of the Moisture – First things first, repair where the insulation is taking on water. This can include repairing pipes or rooflines.
Monitor the Damage – How bad has your insulation been affected? How long has it taken on water?
Attempt to Dry – Good ventilation and using dehumidifiers over several days may help (Note that incomplete drying can lead to hidden moisture pockets and mold growth.)
Replace – Any insulation beyond recovery should be exchanged with new insulation to ensure a clean, dry, and effective insulation system.

Assessing Blow-in Fiberglass Insulation

This insulation option is quickly showing itself to be one of the best bang-for-the-buck models. As fiberglass blow-in boasts a great r-value and moisture resistance for the cost. Aside from spray foam, this is the insulation EZ Attic recommends to most home owners for their attic and walls.

How to Know if Your Insulation is Blow-in Fiberglass

Blow-in fiberglass insulation consists of loose, fluffy fibers that are blown into attics and wall cavities.
It has a lightweight, cottony appearance and can be pink, white, or yellow.
Blow-in fiberglass is often found in attics, covering the floor or filling the space between joists.

What Happens to Wet Blow-in Fiberglass Insulation

Wet blow-in fiberglass insulation can experience the following issues:

Clumping or matting of the fibers, which reduces its insulating properties.
Water stains, discoloration, or sagging as a result of moisture absorption.
Musty odors or mold growth if left wet for an extended period.

What to Do With Wet Blow-in Fiberglass Insulation

If the damage is minimal and the insulation has not been wet for long (2-3 days), you may be able to salvage it:

Remove the wet insulation and spread it out in a dry area with good ventilation.
Use fans or dehumidifiers to help speed up the drying process.
Once the insulation is completely dry, re-install it using a blowing machine

However, if the insulation has been saturated for an extended period (over 3 days), has developed an odor, or shows signs of mold, it is in your best interest to replace it to maintain a healthy and effective insulation system in your home.

Thankfully, EZ Attic Insulation are specialists at installing blow-in fiberglass insulation and can make the process of removing and re-installing new high-grade insulating materials a breeze. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Assessing Batt Fiberglass Insulation

Fiberglass batts are a cheap and effective option for many homeowners. Most commonly they are seen in walls, but are occasionally used in attics. However, we at EZ Attic know that this insulation is best for noise-reduction, not producing the best R-value for your home. This said, let’s take a look.

How to Know if Your Insulation is Fiberglass Batts

Batts are usually pink, white, or yellow and have a woven, textured appearance.
Fiberglass batt insulation comes in pre-cut strips that fit between wall studs and attic joists.

What Happens to Wet Fiberglass Batt Insulation

Wet batts, particularly if placed vertically when used as wall insulators, will not quickly dry on their own. This moisture will typically follow gravity, leading to a settling of water at the lowest part of the batt. When fiberglass batt insulation gets wet, you may notice:

Damp or wet spots on the insulation’s surface.
Sagging, compression, or loss of shape due to moisture absorption.
Water stains, discoloration, or visible mold growth.
A musty smell coming from the affected area.

What to Do With Wet Fiberglass Batt Insulation

If the damage is minor and caught early, you may be able to dry and reuse the batts:

Remove the wet batts and place them in a dry, well-ventilated area.
Use fans or dehumidifiers to accelerate the drying process.
Once completely dry, re-install the batts, ensuring they fit snugly between studs or joists.

However, if the batts have been saturated for a long time, have developed an odor, or have lost their shape, replace them to ensure effective insulation and prevent mold growth. We recommend replacing them with blow-in fiberglass insulation or spray foam insulation for better r-value and moisture control for your future home comfort.

Assessing Cellulose Insulation

Cellulose is one of the most popular types of insulation, particularly in older homes. It’s easy to see why, it’s cheap, easy to install, and boasts an eco-friendly material type. However, we at EZ Attic have seen countless Houston homes with the aftermath of this type of insulation in their home. Cellulose is very susceptible to water damage, particularly due to a storm, which leads to quick degradation.

How to Know if Your Insulation is Cellulose

Cellulose insulation is often grayish, off-white, or tan in color and has a finely shredded, fibrous texture.
It’s made from recycled paper products (often newspaper) and is treated with fire retardants.
It is loose-fill insulation that is blown into attics and wall cavities, similar to blow-in fiberglass.

What Happens to Wet Cellulose Insulation

When cellulose insulation gets wet, you may observe:

Clumping or matting of the cellulose material, which reduces its insulating properties.
Water stains, discoloration, or visible moisture within the insulation.
Sagging or settling of the insulation due to the added weight of water.
A strong, musty odor or visible signs of mold growth.

What to Do With Wet Cellulose Insulation

In most cases, water-damaged cellulose insulation should be replaced. Attempting to dry and reuse this type is not recommended because:

The dense, compacted nature of cellulose fibers makes it difficult to dry thoroughly.
It can hold moisture for extended periods, increasing the risk of mold and structural damage.
Replacing water-damaged cellulose insulation ensures a clean, dry, and effective system.

When it comes to a full project of insulation removal and re-installation, it is always recommended to use a professional service to avoid attic hazards and injuries that come with the territory of the work.

Get Expert Insulation Damage Help from EZ Attic Insulation

Now that we’ve looked at different types of damaged insulation and what direction to take, we hope you’re one step closer to getting your life back to normal. Dealing with the aftermath of a storm can be overwhelming, and assessing the damage to your insulation is just one piece of the puzzle. If you’re feeling unsure about where to start or simply want some expert guidance, EZ Attic Insulation is here to help.

With our extensive network of installers and years of experience in the Greater Houston area, we understand the unique challenges that come with storm damage. Our team is ready to provide you with a quick and easy quote, followed by a thorough assessment of your insulation needs. We’ll work with you to determine the best course of action, whether that means salvaging your existing insulation or replacing it with new, high-quality materials.

So, if you’re looking for professional insulation assistance with your home recovery project, give us a call today. We’ll be there every step of the way.

Start the Path to Home Recovery

If you have seen weather damage to your home’s insulation, trust Houston’s Insulation Experts for fast and quality service.