Houston Homeowners: How to Spot Bad Insulation Before the Next Heat Wave
Houston doesn’t ease into summer — it slams into it. One week it’s heavy Gulf humidity making everything feel sticky, the next it’s triple-digit heat indexes and your AC is fighting for its life. When we hear homeowners say “the system never shuts off” or “upstairs is unbearable,” insulation is almost always the real problem hiding behind the scenes.
At Phantom Foam we walk attics and crawl spaces all over Greater Houston every week—from older homes near the loop to newer builds stretching north toward Montgomery County and west into fast-growing suburbs. Different neighborhoods, same story: insulation that was never designed for Houston’s heat and humidity.
Before you guess, replace equipment, or keep paying brutal summer electric bills, run through this quick checklist. It takes five minutes and no tools.
What You’ll Notice Just Living in the House
The AC never seems to rest If your system cycles constantly or runs all day just to keep things almost comfortable, cold air is escaping faster than it should. In Houston, that’s usually insulation leakage—not the unit itself.
Power bills jump hard when summer hits A sudden $150–$300 spike once temperatures climb isn’t normal. When insulation is thin, settled, or missing, you’re paying to cool the outdoors.
Upstairs feels like a different climate Common in two-story homes across places like Cypress, Spring, and newer developments north of town. Heat rises straight through under-insulated attic floors, turning second levels into ovens.
Walls or ceilings feel warm or slightly damp If exterior walls feel hot to the touch or corners show condensation, humid air is sneaking in and meeting cooler indoor air—a recipe for moisture problems.
That musty smell never really leaves Closets, pantries, and spare bathrooms hold onto that mildew smell because moisture is getting trapped where insulation and air sealing failed.
Drafts where there shouldn’t be any Feel air movement near outlets, baseboards, or door frames? That’s Houston heat pushing its way inside while your conditioned air slips out.
Quick Attic & Crawl Space Checks (Flashlight Helps)
Insulation looks thin or uneven If you can see attic joists sticking up or notice bare patches near the eaves, you’re under-insulated. Most Houston homes need R-38 or higher, which means a deep, consistent layer—not scattered fluff.
Attic smells hot or looks stained A strong heat smell or dark marks on roof decking point to heat and moisture moving freely through the structure.
Crawl space feels damp or swampy Moist soil, soggy insulation, or that wet-dog smell underneath the house usually means rim joists and penetrations were never sealed correctly.
If Several of These Sound Familiar
When four or more boxes get checked, insulation is no longer doing its job. That leads to higher energy bills, uneven comfort, AC systems wearing out faster, and increased mold and moisture risk.
Spray foam changes the equation. It seals, insulates, and blocks humidity in one step by bonding directly to framing and closing off air leaks traditional insulation can’t touch.
Built for Houston Homes — Wherever You Are
From older homes closer to downtown to expanding neighborhoods pushing toward Conroe, Pearland, or the southeast side, Houston housing stock varies—but the climate doesn’t. Our approach adapts to each structure, whether it’s a two-story family home, a townhome, or a newer build that just didn’t get enough insulation from the start.
Want a Straight Answer, Not a Sales Pitch?
We offer free, no-pressure insulation inspections. We’ll check your attic, walls, and crawl space and tell you exactly what’s helping—and what’s hurting—your home.
Book your free Greater Houston insulation check →
Don’t wait for the next heat wave to expose the problem. Fix it once and enjoy a cooler, drier, more efficient home all summer.
The Phantom Foam Team Houston Spray Foam Insulation Specialists February 2026