What Happens If You Don’t Have Enough Insulation in Your Attic?
If your home feels drafty in the winter, hot in the summer, or your HVAC seems to run nonstop, your attic insulation might be the problem. Many Mid-South homes—especially those built before 2000—are under-insulated.
Here in Memphis, Germantown, and Collierville, our climate swings from freezing nights to 100-degree summers. Without proper insulation, that temperature change moves straight through your ceiling, wasting energy and driving your utility bills higher every month.
So, what actually happens when you don’t have enough insulation in your attic? Let’s break it down.
1. Your Energy Bills Skyrocket
When there’s not enough insulation between your living space and the attic, your home loses conditioned air fast. In summer, your AC has to fight the constant heat radiating down from the attic. In winter, your furnace runs longer to replace the warm air that’s escaping through the ceiling.
According to ENERGY STAR, homeowners can save 10–20% on heating and cooling costs simply by properly insulating and air-sealing their attics. For many families in Shelby County, that’s a few hundred dollars every year.
If your attic currently has only 6–8 inches of old insulation, that’s probably around R-19, but the recommended level for our area is R-38 to R-60, or roughly 12–20 inches of fiberglass blown-in insulation.
2. Your Home Becomes Uncomfortable
Ever notice that the upstairs feels hotter than downstairs? That’s a classic sign of poor attic insulation. Hot air builds up in the attic and radiates through the ceiling, making bedrooms uncomfortable even when the thermostat is set low.
In the winter, the opposite happens. Warm air rises and leaks through the ceiling, leaving bedrooms chilly and unevenly heated. Proper insulation keeps your home more consistent and comfortable year-round, so you don’t have to constantly adjust the thermostat.
3. Moisture and Mold Can Build Up
Insulation isn’t just about temperature—it also helps control moisture. When warm, moist air from your living space meets the cold attic air, condensation forms. Over time, that moisture can lead to:
- Mold or mildew on rafters and insulation
- Wood rot in roof decking
- Stains on ceilings or walls
If you notice musty smells or dark spots on your attic insulation, it’s time for an inspection. At Restoration Roofing, we often find that a combination of blown-in fiberglass insulation and proper attic ventilation (ridge vents, soffit vents, or solar fans) solves both heat and moisture issues at once.
4. Your Roof and Shingles Suffer
Lack of insulation can also hurt your roof. In the winter, heat from your home escapes into the attic and warms the underside of your roof deck. When that heat melts the snow on your shingles (even just frost here in Memphis), it can refreeze at the edges and cause ice dams.
While ice dams are rare in the Mid-South, the same problem of uneven roof temperature can cause premature shingle aging, warping, and even soft decking. Insulation and ventilation work together to protect your roof from inside out.
5. Your HVAC System Works Overtime
An under-insulated attic forces your heating and cooling system to work harder. The system cycles more frequently, adding wear and tear and shortening its lifespan.
Replacing an HVAC system can cost anywhere from $7,000 to $15,000, while improving attic insulation usually costs a fraction of that. It’s one of the best home efficiency upgrades you can make for long-term savings.
6. Drafts and Cold Spots
Not enough insulation lets air leak through small cracks, gaps, and recessed lights. This can create drafts that make rooms feel uncomfortable—even when the thermostat says the temperature is right.
Adding blown-in fiberglass insulation fills these small gaps more evenly than traditional batt insulation, sealing around framing and hard-to-reach corners for maximum coverage.
7. Indoor Air Quality Suffers
If you’ve noticed more dust or musty smells, poor insulation might be part of the problem. Air leaks between your attic and living space can pull in dust, pollen, and insulation fibers.
When Restoration Roofing installs new fiberglass insulation, we also check for air leaks around light fixtures, attic hatches, and ductwork to make sure your attic is properly sealed before we blow in the insulation. This simple step improves both energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
8. You Miss Out on Energy Rebates
In Tennessee, homeowners may qualify for TVA EnergyRight rebates when they upgrade attic insulation to meet current efficiency standards. Restoration Roofing is a local participating contractor, and we can help guide you through the process.
These rebates often cover $200–$500 or more, depending on your project size—helping to offset your upfront cost.
Signs Your Attic Needs More Insulation
You might not know exactly what’s up there, but here are a few quick ways to tell:
- You can see the attic floor joists through the insulation.
- The house gets hot upstairs and cold downstairs.
- HVAC runs constantly, even when it’s mild outside.
- You see frost or condensation on the attic ceiling or ductwork.
- Energy bills keep rising even though your usage hasn’t changed.
If any of these sound familiar, it’s time for a quick attic inspection.
Why We Use Fiberglass Blown-In Insulation
At Restoration Roofing / Restoration Insulation, we specialize in fiberglass blown-in insulation because it offers:
- Excellent thermal performance (R-value per inch)
- Resistance to moisture and mold
- Non-combustible materials
- Long lifespan—won’t settle or compact as easily as cellulose
It’s the perfect fit for Memphis-area homes, keeping attics cooler in summer and warmer in winter with minimal maintenance.
Work With Restoration Roofing
We’ve helped homeowners all across the Mid-South lower their bills, fix comfort issues, and make their homes more energy-efficient with blown-in fiberglass insulation. Whether you live in an older Germantown home or a newer build in Collierville, we can assess your attic and give you honest, transparent recommendations—no pressure, no gimmicks.Give us a call at 901-854-3402 or fill out our Contact Us form and we will reach out to you with our next available inspection. Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more tips on finding the best roofing contractor for you.
