While the goal for most homeowners is reduced heating and cooling costs (especially here in the Northeast), our job as your home inspector when it comes to insulation and ventilation is to identify conditions that may damage the house (some of these conditions we may not be able to see and potentially rely on indirect and/or incomplete evidence). We live in a twofold climate zone where experiencing extreme heat and cold can potentially wreak havoc on our homes. Insulation helps keep the interior of our homes comfortable (when the system is performing properly) and proper ventilation allows the home to breathe.