What is an Attic Cleanout?

An attic cleanout removes unwanted items, dusty or moldy old insulation, and debris from your attic space. Most homeowners don’t realize that too much clutter may cause damage and other long-term issues. If an attic is unkept, dirty, and cluttered, this could welcome rodents and pests, cause contamination to your attic insulation, obstruct air flow, cause moisture issues, or even fire.

Read on as we dive into 6 things to consider when considering an attic cleanout. 

6 Things to Consider When Planning an Attic Cleanout

How do you know it’s time to plan an attic cleanout? We’ve compiled a list of 6 things to consider when planning an attic cleanout. 

1. Plan an Attic Cleanout When You Hear Rodent-Related Noises

While homeowners use their attic space for storage and may not return for months, issues such as an attic rodent infestation may arise. Through feces and urine, rodents and pests can bring unwanted health hazards into your home. Not only can health issues occur, but these pesky little critters may begin to damage attic insulation by nesting and mating.

If you notice any of these issues in your home, you’ll immediately want to schedule an attic cleanout inspection

• Unpleasant odors
• Deceased rodents
• Feces or other pest droppings
• Excessive dust & debris
• Nested insulation 
• Dusty or Black insulation

So why do these pesky critters navigate towards attics in the first place?

1. Opportunities for Warmth: Attic insulation provides a warm environment for rodents and other pests to make a home in. When this happens, you’ll need to have your attic insulation removed and new attic insulation along with our rodent-proofing service.
2. More entry points: Since attics are less visited, they are the one space in your home with the most entry points for rodents. After your attic cleanout, we will rodent-proof your attic to keep these pesky critters out for good. 

2. You Notice Mold or Mildew 

After your attic cleanout is complete, you may notice mold or mildew in dark areas of your attic. If not taken care of, mold or mildew can lead to severe structural damage and should be discussed with a mold professional.

The air ducts in your attic area will transfer heat from your HVAC system and send it to other areas of your home. Clean air will ensure that you have a mold-free environment. 

If you have a rodent infestation, this may cause potential damage to your air ducts. Our team can conduct an attic air duct repair or replacement in the event of damage. 

3. You Notice Structural Damage

If you begin to notice structural damage in your attic area, this is another sign you should schedule an attic cleanout inspection. Rodents and other pesky critters can often cause unwanted structural damage to the most hidden areas. Scheduling an attic cleanout can help prevent future structural damage caused by rodents and birds.

After your attic cleanout, our professionals can rodent-proof your attic to ensure unwanted critters prevent future damage. A proper attic cleanout will also benefit your overall health and safety. 

4. You’re Coughing and Sneezing

If it’s not winter, and you’ve noticed an uptick in coughing and sneezing among the family members in your home, this could be a sign that you need an attic cleanout. If you’ve ruled out all other possibilities, such as allergies, perfumes, or pets, you might have more significant problems.

A potential reason for increased coughing and sneezing could mean that your attic has

• Mold or mildew
• Rodent droppings
• Dead animals
• Old insulation 
• Dusty insulation

After you schedule an attic cleanout with our team, you can make sure your home has an air purification system to help alleviate any symptoms. 

5. You Notice Odors

When you come across an odor, it’s tough to ignore, especially if it’s overwhelming. When searching for the source of a foul odor, make sure you inspect around the hatch of your attic. Some potential reasons for odors in attics are

• Wet insulation
• Water damage to the roof or walls
• Mold or mildew
• Dead rodents 
• Rodent droppings 
• Old or black insulation 

Because odors can penetrate underneath and become hard to locate, you may need to consider removing your attic insulation to ensure it’s not the cause. While waiting for our team to perform your attic cleanout, you can try to increase the ventilation in your attic to help reduce the odor. 

6. You’re Having Difficulty Accessing Your Attic

Whether you’ve encountered a severe problem or simply want to declutter and straighten up your attic, our team can help. When using your attic for storage, you’ll want to ensure clear access to the entrance.

If your attic hatch and entranceway are blocked, it’s time to call our team to schedule an attic cleanout inspection. Our professionals at Master Attic can help you access your attic safely and remove any hazards and obstructions.

Hire a Professional When Planning an Attic Cleanout

If you begin to notice evidence of rodents, odors, or dust buildup or simply want to access your attic, it’s time to schedule an attic cleanout inspection.

At Master Attic, our team dedicates itself to assisting you with fixing the problems in your attic space. Whether you need attic insulation removal, new attic insulation installed, air duct replacements, air gap sealing, or rodent proofing, our team can do it all!

Before you attempt to tackle your attic space independently, call our experts at Master Attic to do it for you and get a free estimate for the work.