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It is usually possible to install insulation yourself, but it’s often better to hire an insulation professional. An experienced insulation pro can determine which type of insulation is best for your space and the R-value get the most value and comfort in your home. Certain types of insulation can cause skin, eye, and lung irritation, and a professional will have the equipment necessary to keep themselves safe and limit the effect on your indoor air quality after the installation. Certain types of insulation—like blown-in and loose-fill insulation—demand a professional for proper functionality and safe installation.

Three signs that you need crawl space insulation are drafts, high energy bills, and mold. Drafts can start in crawl spaces and cause hot or cold air to spread to the rest of your home through holes in the floors and walls. And even if your entire home is well-insulated, you can still feel an unchecked draft from your crawl space and in your utility bill. Uninsulated crawl spaces can let in air and moisture, and because they’re built directly on the ground and difficult to dry out, they are hotspots for mold and mildew.

Rockwool insulation can last up to 100 years, but just how long this insulation lasts in your home depends on how well it's maintained. Poorly installed insulation may last only 30 years, so be sure to regularly inspect your home's insulation for water damage, settling, and pests to give your insulation the best chance of having a long lifespan.

Mineral wool has an excellent life expectancy of up to 50 years, provided it's kept dry and free of pests. Compared to fiberglass, with a life span of 20 to 30 years, mineral wool stacks up well for long-term cost savings. Sheep wool maintains a similar life span to fiberglass, while estimates for hemp wool insulation life expectancies are all over the board, ranging anywhere from 20 to 100 years.