Is your house trying to tell you something? The signs of poor insulation aren’t always obvious, but they can affect your comfort, your energy bills, and even your health. In Manitoba’s climate, where winters are long and cold and summers bring heat and humidity, your insulation needs to work year-round. 

Time for a Manitoba  Insulation Upgrade?

If you’re experiencing any of the following issues, it may be time for an insulation upgrade or inspection.

1. Uneven Temperatures and Drafty Rooms

If some rooms in your home are always colder in the winter or hotter in the summer, that’s a clear sign your insulation may be underperforming. You might notice a bedroom that never feels quite warm enough, or drafts near windows, outlets, or attic hatches. 

These problems often come from gaps in coverage or old insulation that has settled or shifted over time. A well-insulated and properly sealed home should feel consistent throughout, without cold corners or temperature swings from room to room.

2. High Energy Bills That Keep Climbing

We expect our heating bills to rise in January, but if yours seem unusually high—or if your furnace or AC is running constantly—it could be a sign your insulation isn’t doing its job. 

Poor insulation forces your HVAC system to work overtime to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, which drives up your energy usage. 

If your bills are climbing year after year and your home still feels drafty or unevenly heated, your insulation could be the missing link. Many Manitoba homeowners see significant savings after upgrading to higher-performance materials like spray foam.

3. Pests Are Getting In

If you’re hearing scurrying in the attic or finding signs of mice or insects inside, don’t overlook your insulation. 

Rodents and pests often nest in old or poorly installed insulation. Loose materials like fibreglass batts are easy for them to burrow through, and gaps in coverage make for easy entry points. 

Spray foam insulation, on the other hand, seals cracks and crevices while offering no place for pests to settle. If you’re seeing repeated infestations, it’s worth checking whether your insulation is part of the problem.

4. Moisture Problems, Mold, or Ice Dams

Water stains on ceilings, musty smells, and visible mold growth are serious signs that warm, moist air is reaching cold surfaces. 

This is common when attic or basement insulation is insufficient or poorly sealed. In winter, escaping heat can melt roof snow and create ice dams—those ridges of ice near the edge of your roof. 

These often indicate that heat is leaking from the house through the attic due to inadequate insulation. 

In warmer months, poor insulation can lead to condensation in walls or crawl spaces, which contributes to mold and structural damage. Any sign of water where it shouldn’t be deserves attention.

5. Musty Odours, Dust, or Allergy Symptoms Indoors

Sometimes the clearest indicators of insulation issues come from what you can smell or feel. Insulation could be part of the issue if your home smells musty, feels damp in certain rooms, or if family members experience more allergy flare-ups indoors than outside. 

Older insulation can collect dust, pollen, or rodent droppings over time, which can then circulate through the air. Insulation that allows air leaks can also draw in allergens from outside. 

Upgrading to clean, air-sealing insulation like spray foam can dramatically improve indoor air quality and reduce allergy triggers.

What to Do if You Notice These Signs

If one or more of these issues sound familiar, a professional insulation assessment can help pinpoint the cause. At Summit Insulation Services, we inspect your home’s attic, walls, crawl spaces, and rim joists to identify areas where heat is escaping or moisture is entering. 

For a lot of homeowners, improving or replacing insulation in just a few areas, like the attic or basement walls, makes a huge difference.

Better insulation isn’t just about warmth in the winter. It means lower energy bills, a healthier indoor environment, and more consistent comfort year-round. If you’re not sure where to begin, reach out to Summit Insulation Services. 

Our Manitoba-based team offers honest advice, detailed inspections, and customized solutions to make your home more efficient and comfortable in every season.