Meet the Expert: Mike York of Fox Valley Insulation & Energy Solutions

Keeping Homes Comfortable and Energy Efficient for Over 25 Years

Ever wonder why your upstairs bedrooms are freezing in January, your furnace seems to run constantly, or your heating bills keep climbing even though you haven't changed the thermostat?

The problem might not be your furnace at all. It could be what's happening right above your head.

With another Chicago-area winter approaching, The Shiny Bubble sat down with Mike York of Fox Valley Insulation & Energy Solutions, with 25 years of experience specializing in attic insulation, air sealing, ventilation, insulation removal and replacement, and residential energy efficiency improvements throughout the Midwest.

Mike shared some surprising insights about where homes lose heat, why more insulation isn't always the answer, and how a few improvements can make a big difference in comfort and heating costs.

Mike: Assuming that because their home has insulation, it must have enough.

We see this all the time, especially in older DuPage County homes. A homeowner has lived there for 20 years, never looked inside the attic, and assumes everything is fine because there's insulation up there.

But insulation can be inadequate, unevenly distributed, or disturbed by previous work. And even with plenty of insulation, warm air can escape through unsealed openings around plumbing, wiring, attic hatches, and other penetrations.

The biggest mistake is treating insulation as something you install once and never think about again.

Mike: A bigger furnace!

We regularly hear from homeowners who say, "Our upstairs bedrooms are freezing, and the furnace never seems to stop running. We must need a bigger heating system."

Sometimes the furnace is perfectly fine. The real problem is that the house is losing heat through the attic or leaking conditioned air through gaps in the building.

Before spending thousands of dollars on new heating equipment, I'd recommend having the home's insulation and air leakage evaluated.

You don't necessarily need a bigger furnace. You may need to stop losing the heat you're already paying for.

Mike: Air leaks into the attic.

People don't realize how much warm, moist air can escape through small openings around recessed lights, plumbing penetrations, bathroom exhaust ducts, and attic access panels.

During winter, that warm air can carry moisture into a cold attic, where it may condense on roof decking and framing.

Over time, excess moisture can contribute to mold growth, damaged insulation, and deteriorating wood.

What starts as a small air-sealing problem can eventually become a much more expensive roofing or structural repair.

Mike: I'd recommend a basic attic evaluation every few years and whenever you're experiencing unusual heating bills, comfort problems, roof leaks, or moisture issues.

If you've recently had electrical work, plumbing repairs, recessed lighting installed, or other projects that required someone to enter the attic, it's worth checking whether insulation was moved or disturbed.

And if you're buying an older home, an insulation and ventilation evaluation is one of the smartest things you can do.

You don't need to replace insulation on a fixed schedule. You need to make sure it's performing properly.

Mike: Check your attic access opening.

A lot of homes have a pull-down attic ladder or a simple ceiling hatch with very little insulation or weather sealing around it.

That opening can allow warm air to escape into the attic.

Make sure the hatch closes properly and has appropriate insulation and weatherstripping. If you have pull-down stairs, an insulated attic stair cover can help.

It's a relatively simple improvement that can reduce air leakage without a major renovation.

Mike: Your house usually gives you clues.

Some of the most common signs include:

One of the biggest clues is a home that never feels consistently comfortable, even when the heating and cooling equipment is working properly.

Mike: Older homes are a big one.

DuPage County has many neighborhoods with homes built in the 1950s through the 1990s. Some were constructed when insulation requirements and air-sealing practices were very different from today's standards.

We also see issues in two-story homes where the upstairs bedrooms are difficult to heat or cool, and in homes with complicated rooflines, cathedral ceilings, or finished attic spaces.

Another common situation is a house that has been expanded over the years. Additions may have different insulation levels or air-sealing details than the original structure.

Every house is different, and that's why a proper evaluation matters.

Mike: The biggest change is that we now look at the entire home as a system.

Years ago, the solution was often just to blow more insulation into the attic.

Today, we understand that insulation, air sealing, ventilation, moisture control, and HVAC performance all work together.

We use tools such as thermal imaging cameras and blower-door testing to help identify where conditioned air is escaping and where improvements will make the biggest difference.

Modern insulation materials and installation methods have improved, but the biggest advancement is knowing where to make improvements instead of simply adding more material everywhere.

Mike: Look at your heating bills from last winter.

If your energy usage has been increasing, or certain rooms never seem comfortable, don't automatically assume you need new heating equipment.

Start by looking at your attic insulation, air leaks, windows, doors, and overall home efficiency.

And when winter arrives, pay attention to how snow melts on your roof.

If you consistently see bare patches of roof surrounded by snow, that may indicate heat escaping into the attic. It's not a diagnosis by itself, but it's worth investigating.

Mike: After 25 years, we've seen some interesting things hidden in attics.

One homeowner called because the upstairs bedrooms were always cold, even though they had recently installed a new furnace.

When we inspected the attic, we discovered that a previous remodeling project had left a large section above the bedrooms with almost no insulation.

The homeowner had spent thousands upgrading the heating system, but the real problem was directly above the ceiling.

Once the missing insulation and air leakage were addressed, the rooms became much more comfortable.

Sometimes the simplest problems are the ones that get overlooked the longest.

Mike: When an energy-efficiency problem has already become a moisture or roofing problem.

We get calls after homeowners notice condensation in the attic, mold on roof decking, damaged insulation, or recurring ice dams during winter.

Ice dams are particularly important here in Illinois.

When heat escapes into the attic, it can warm portions of the roof and melt snow. That water runs toward colder roof edges, where it can refreeze and create an ice dam.

The trapped water may then work its way underneath roofing materials and into the home.

But it's important to understand that ice dams aren't always caused by one thing. Air leakage, insulation, ventilation, roof conditions, and weather can all play a role.

And clogged gutters can create additional drainage problems.

Good attic insulation and air sealing protect the inside of your home, while proper roof and gutter maintenance help protect the outside.

Mike: Have your attic evaluated before the first extended stretch of freezing temperatures.

If you have cold upstairs rooms, high heating bills, or a history of ice dams, don't wait until January to investigate.

A professional can evaluate insulation levels, air leakage, ventilation, and moisture conditions to determine what actually needs attention.

The solution might be additional insulation. It might be air sealing. It might involve correcting a ventilation problem.

The important thing is fixing the cause rather than guessing at the solution.

Mike: Don't assume your heating bill is high simply because you live in Illinois.

Yes, our winters are cold. But that doesn't mean you should have to tolerate uncomfortable rooms, excessive drafts, or a furnace that seems to run nonstop.

Your home should work as a complete system.

Before investing in expensive equipment or major renovations, find out where your home is losing energy and address those problems first.

After 25 years in this business, I've learned that the most comfortable home isn't necessarily the one with the biggest furnace, it's the one that keeps the heat where it belongs.

And that's something every DuPage County homeowner can appreciate.

A comfortable, energy-efficient home is not always about installing a bigger furnace. Cold rooms, rising heating bills, drafts, ice dams, and moisture in the attic may point to insulation problems or air leaks. Before investing in new heating equipment, have your attic evaluated and make sure insulation, air sealing, ventilation, and moisture control are working together.