how do you know when you need to change your insulation?

[ladyinfidel]

I have a 1933 house and in the attic is cotton (or wool, i can't tell) insulation that is just loose on the floor/second floor ceiling. I don't know when it was put in since it was here when I bought the house in 2003. I have no idea if there is insulation in the walls at all, on the first and second floor, and they are plaster on steel lathe so

Comments

[brockulfsen]

Auto parts shops now sell tiny inspection cameras for not very much. A ladder, a drill and an inspection camera would let you look down into your wall cavities leaving only small discrete hole where they can be patched unobtrusively.

Check with local insulation suppliers for recommendations.

One thing to remember is that if you have to deal with hot summers you don't want lagging as insulation, you want to go for something with low thermal mass or you end up baking a few hours after sunset.

[leatherfemme]

Check with your utilities company and/or local government. Many states/municipalities offer free energy audit services - which would include checking out your insulation among other things.

[stemware]

Okay, so I think here's what you're asking