At Stellrr Insulation & Spray Foam, we’ve worked with thousands of Central Texas homeowners. When people call us, they’re often frustrated. Their energy bills are rising, some rooms won’t stay warm or cool, or they’ve started noticing drafts they can’t explain. Behind nearly all of it is the same culprit: worn-out or ineffective wall insulation.
This guide is built around the questions we hear every day: Is my home properly insulated? How do I know if my wall insulation is still working? What can I do about it? You’re going to walk away with clear signs to look for, an understanding of why insulation fails, and what to do next—directly from the experts at Stellrr.
Wall Temperature, Drafts, and Strange Indoor Airflow
Wall insulation should help regulate indoor temperatures. When it fails, your comfort level plummets.
Cold Walls in Winter, Hot Walls in Summer
Put your hand on an interior wall that faces outdoors. If it feels cold in the winter or warm in the summer, you may be feeling the temperature from outside bleeding through. Properly installed and intact insulation creates a thermal barrier. When that barrier is damaged, moisture or compressed, it can no longer regulate heat transfer.
We often find this in older homes with original fiberglass batts, or in new homes with poorly blown cellulose. In both cases, the materials have settled or deteriorated, creating empty cavities or weak spots.
Drafts That Aren’t From the Windows
If you’ve ruled out windows and doors, but you’re still noticing unexplained drafts, degraded wall insulation is a common cause. Air leakage can result from gaps between studs, unsealed sheathing joints, or insulation that has pulled away over time.
Our diagnostic team uses blower door testing and infrared imaging to pinpoint exactly where air is entering your walls. Then we recommend permanent solutions like dense pack cellulose or spray foam—to seal and insulate those voids.
High Energy Bills With No Obvious Cause
You’re running your HVAC like usual. But your energy bills keep rising. That’s a key sign something’s wrong behind the walls.
HVAC Running Longer Than Normal
When insulation can’t stop heat transfer effectively, your heating or cooling system runs longer to compensate. If your system is cycling more often or struggling to maintain consistent indoor temperatures, inefficient wall insulation could be a hidden factor.
Stellrr helps homeowners measure and understand their home’s thermal performance. Through insulation audits and thermal imaging, we uncover insulation gaps and failures and show you how much money you’re losing each month before recommending a fix.
Energy Bills Climbing Despite Routine HVAC Maintenance
If you’ve already changed filters, sealed ducts, and serviced your HVAC system but your utility costs are still climbing, the issue could be behind the drywall. Most homeowners overlook walls when troubleshooting energy problems. We don’t. We check everything: attic, walls, crawl spaces, and more.
Humidity, Mold, and Indoor Air Quality Problems
Wall insulation isn’t just about temperature. It helps control indoor moisture and air quality too.
Condensation and Musty Smells
If your walls feel damp or your rooms have a persistent musty odor, your insulation could be absorbing moisture—or worse, harboring mold. This is common with fiberglass batts or poorly air-sealed wall cavities.
We frequently find these conditions in walls behind furniture or in low-ventilation areas. Once moisture gets trapped, it compromises the insulation and risks spreading contaminants into your indoor air.
Insulation That’s Holding Moisture
Cellulose and fiberglass are both vulnerable to moisture retention. Once wet, they lose R-value and can become breeding grounds for mold and bacteria. If you’ve had a roof or pipe leak—or just live in a high-humidity environment it’s worth inspecting your walls.
Stellrr’s team evaluates moisture content in walls using specialized tools. When needed, we recommend insulation that resists water and seals air gaps like closed-cell spray foam.
Signs Inside the Walls: Pests, Settling, and Material Degradation
Sometimes the issues are hidden but the signs still show up.
Pest Infestation Behind Walls
Rodents and insects love burrowing through poorly installed or deteriorating insulation. If you’ve heard scratching inside your walls or seen droppings, it could be more than a pest control issue.
We’ve pulled down drywall to reveal nests made from shredded fiberglass. This not only damages insulation but destroys its performance. Our insulation removal and replacement services ensure the problem is resolved permanently not just patched.
Settling, Gaps, and Voids
Insulation doesn’t stay in place forever. Over time, cellulose can settle and fiberglass can slump. This creates pockets with little to no thermal protection.
At Stellrr, we use dense-pack cellulose that resists settling and creates a consistent thermal seal across wall cavities. For more demanding environments, spray foam is our go-to for its permanent adhesion and gap-filling ability.
Your Path to a More Comfortable, Efficient Home Starts Now with Stellrr
Poor insulation doesn’t just cost you money. It affects how your home feels every single day. Our mission at Stellrr is to help you reclaim that comfort, lower your bills, and protect your health—by making sure your wall insulation is actually doing its job.
If you’ve noticed drafts, rising energy bills, musty smells, or rooms that just won’t stay warm or cool, we’re here to help. Our team specializes in diagnosing wall insulation failures and fixing them the right way.
Call us today at (512) 710-2839 or email info@stellrr.com to schedule a free consultation. Let’s find out what’s going on behind your walls and make your home perform the way it should.
Still Curious? Let’s Clear Up the Most Common Questions
How can I check my wall insulation without opening the walls?
We use infrared thermal imaging and blower door tests to assess wall insulation performance without invasive demolition. These tools reveal temperature patterns that indicate where insulation is missing or underperforming.
My home is only a few years old. Could the insulation already be bad?
Yes. Many new construction homes use low-cost materials or rushed installation methods. We frequently find major gaps or poorly installed batts in homes under 10 years old.
I have spray foam in the attic. Does that mean my walls are fine?
Not necessarily. Attic spray foam helps, but uninsulated or under-insulated walls still cause energy loss and comfort issues. Each area of the home needs its own evaluation.
Will adding insulation fix my humidity or indoor air quality problems?
In many cases, yes. Proper insulation and air sealing reduce condensation, filter outdoor pollutants, and block allergens. We often combine insulation upgrades with ventilation improvements for the best results.
What’s the best insulation material for existing walls?
Dense pack cellulose and spray foam are our top choices. Both fill cavities completely and provide strong thermal performance. The right option depends on your home’s design, wall construction, and budget.
Can I insulate without removing the drywall?
Yes. We often retrofit walls using drill-and-fill methods from the exterior or interior. This allows us to add insulation with minimal disruption to your home.
Why are my walls cold even with insulation?
Cold walls suggest that insulation isn’t working correctly—either due to gaps, moisture damage, or poor material quality. We identify and fix those root causes.
How long does wall insulation last?
Fiberglass can last 15–20 years but often degrades much sooner due to moisture or settling. Cellulose and spray foam have longer effective lifespans when installed properly.
Do you remove old insulation before installing new?
In most cases, yes. We remove compromised or contaminated insulation to ensure the new material performs as intended. Our process includes full cleanup and disposal.
How much does it cost to upgrade wall insulation?
Costs vary depending on wall type, insulation material, and home size. After an assessment, we provide detailed, transparent pricing no surprises.