The life span of insulation is between 20 and 100 years. At that time, existing insulation can fall victim to gravity, resulting in compression, which reduces its insulating protection or R-value. If you can't simply add more insulation over the existing material, removing the old to increase the effectiveness of the new can reduce your energy bills and make the project worth the time and money investment.

If you’re a savvy DIYer around the house, own the basic tools, and have enough time on your hands, you can definitely install fiberglass insulation yourself. Doing the work yourself will certainly keep overall insulation costs down. However, if you’re not confident in your handy skills around the house, call in a professional.

Periodic checks for moisture or pest issues ensure consistent performance.

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.