When Should You Replace Your attic and crawlspace Insulation?
WHEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE YOUR ATTIC AND CRAWLSPACE INSULATION? Most homeowners don’t think much about their attic and crawlspace insulation. Since it was usually installed
Your attic insulation works hard for you no matter the season and no matter what you have going on in your life. As you run around getting your kids to where they need to go while also tackling big projects at work, your attic insulation works quietly to provide comfort and a temperature-controlled environment throughout your house.
While insulation is one of the most durable parts of your home, it doesn’t last forever. In addition to general wear and tear, as it ages, it can also experience premature damage due to a variety of different factors. In some cases, a simple repair may be all that is necessary. In others, a full replacement is often recommended to ensure the health and safety of your home as well as your family.
Let’s dive into the reasons why attic insulation would need to be replaced in your home.
One of the biggest culprits for attic insulation damage is the presence of water or moisture. Attic spaces are designed to help move air out of your home through proper ventilation, but they shouldn’t be exposed to high levels of humidity or unexpected moisture.
The elements can wreak havoc on homes. As the rain falls, the wind picks up and storms come to town, your roof and siding may become damaged. Even the smallest of holes or a cracked shingle is enough for water to get up into your attic space. Once there, it will leak down your walls and settle into your attic insulation.
Another problem that can impact attic insulation is ice dams. In the colder months as the snow falls, ice is a common problem for roofs and roof lines. While the occasional icicle isn’t a huge cause for concern, any significant ice buildup on the edge of your roof can be problematic.
If you are already struggling with insulation issues and heat transfer in your home, the snow on your roof will melt more rapidly than normal, and that water will drip down your roof until it reaches the freezing edge near your gutters. Once there, it will freeze again and become a solid chunk of ice. This strong block of ice will push against your shingles and roofline, which will invite water into your attic space.
Certain attic insulation materials are water-resistant, but that doesn’t mean your attic insulation will hold up forever. Lingering moisture can start to degrade the insulation material, and mold and mildew infestations can begin to become more common.
Once mold starts to grow, it is imperative that you hire a professional attic insulation removal and replacement team immediately. Mold can negatively impact your air quality and can make your entire home unsafe. In these instances, your attic will be inspected to locate the source of the leak and it will be repaired before the new insulation is installed.
Another big reason for attic insulation removal and replacement is if you recently dealt with a pest infestation. Bats, squirrels, and other attic rodents can cause serious damage to your attic space and your insulation in a short amount of time.
These critters are crafty, so even if you have a tightly sealed attic, they can still find their way through the smallest wiring hole or gap in your siding. Once inside, they will make their roosts and their nests in your cozy attic. Some rodents even like to make their nests directly inside your insulation! After all, your insulation has the job of controlling heat transfer, so it must look pretty cozy for a squirrel or raccoon family.
Over time, these pests will leave behind droppings, urine, hair, and dangerous bacteria in your attic and on your attic insulation. You can expect your air quality to suffer and for your home to struggle with temperature control. If your insulation is compromised with animal refuse, it can’t work the way it needs to in order to keep your family comfortable and your home functional.
In these situations, a full removal and replacement is necessary. First, your damaged insulation and pest is removed. Second, a full cleanup occurs while the entry points are sealed off. Finally, fresh insulation is installed so your family can breathe easier and your home can keep you comfortable the way it was intended.
Did you know that most insulation materials installed in homes today are either naturally fire-resistant or have been treated with chemicals to reduce their risk of spreading fire? Blown-in and batt attic insulation are made of recycled materials, contributing to their fire resistance. Some are even made of tiny glass fibers called fiberglass, which is a natural fire-repellent.
However, that doesn’t mean that insulation can’t be affected by a house fire. House fires become more common in the fall and winter months as people retreat into their homes to ride out the colder weather. If a house fire becomes so large and burns so hot that it starts to destroy levels of your home, you will clearly need to replace your insulation.
This is also true even if the fire didn’t impact certain parts of your house. Even small fires can produce serious amounts of soot and smoke, and that can have a big impact on your attic insulation. If soot settles into your attic insulation material or smoke travels throughout your home, you might need to fully replace the affected insulation to completely eradicate the smell of smoke.
The good news is that your home will most likely start to show you signs that something is amiss with your insulation. As it struggles to work the way it is supposed to, your home will suffer as a result. Watch for these signs that it might be time to call an insulation replacement company:
If you notice any of these problems, give Master Attic a call right away. Our team of professionally trained insulation contractors will help remove the damaged attic insulation and will replace it with fresh material as quickly as possible.
Don’t delay! Call Master Attic at (800) 285-4009 to schedule your insulation removal and replacement today.
WHEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE YOUR ATTIC AND CRAWLSPACE INSULATION? Most homeowners don’t think much about their attic and crawlspace insulation. Since it was usually installed
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