Attic insulation can be a big task. Breaking it down into something manageable requires the right tools for the job and experience cleaning up attic spaces. Rather than trying to do it yourself, leaving your attic insulation removal to the professionals is usually a good idea.
To find the best attic insulation removal in the Orange County area, you don’t need to look any further than our professional team at Attic Construction. We’ve got the experience and know-how to get your attic looking as good as new.
Let’s explore what you need to look for in an excellent attic insulation removal service, and why using a professional for insulation removal is a good idea.
Why Have Your Insulation Professionally Removed?
There are lots of projects that you can do yourself around your home, but removing your attic insulation shouldn’t be one of them. Though it may seem fairly straightforward, there are quite a few reasons why you should have a professional removal service to take care of your musty attic.
#1 Safety
Though they may not seem like it, attics can be quite dangerous, particularly if they are neglected for some time. Attics are cramped and difficult to navigate even under great circumstances. Falls are always a risk, which is why proper protective equipment must be used at all times.
Contaminants in the attic space also pose a health risk. If a rodent infestation or mold growth has occurred, disturbing your insulation can release dried contaminants into the air that pose a threat to the health of yourself and everyone in your home. Proper attic removal techniques minimize the risk of disturbing or spreading potentially harmful contaminants.
#2 Disposal
Aside from the health risks that removing your existing insulation yourself may pose, there’s also the disposal aspect of insulation removal. Insulation can’t simply be thrown away, but rather must be disposed of properly. Professional attic insulation removal services understand the proper disposal techniques for each different type of insulation.
#3 Ease
Removing your old attic insulation can be a pain! Not only can it be dangerous, but it’s hot, cramped work that requires absolute focus at all times. Utilizing professional attic insulation removal in Orange County, ca will ensure you never have to break a sweat to get the benefits of new attic insulation!
#4 The Right Tools
Having the right tools for the job is essential if you’re going to remove your old insulation. For blown-in insulation, you’ll need to use a specialized vacuum that can remove the old insulation and any contaminants it might contain. For fiberglass batt insulation, specialized bags are necessary to manage the old, dirty insulation.
Starting the removal process without the right tools puts yourself and other people in your household at risk. One of the best reasons to use a professional service is because they have the tools and experience necessary to efficiently get the job done.
What to Look for in a Removal Service
Here we’ll outline some of the critical aspects of the removal process and touch on some of the traits you should look for in a company you hire to remove your attic insulation.
Experience
Experience during the attic removal process can be a huge benefit, while a lack of experience can result in huge problems. Attic insulation removal can be difficult, and a lack of expertise compounds that difficulty. Attics are tight to move around in, and falls are not uncommon if workers aren’t careful.
Working with an experienced attic insulation removal team will ensure that your removal and attic cleaning process is done in a safe, efficient, and effective manner. The key is safety, and our team at Attic Construction takes every precaution to ensure a safe work area for employees. But we also prioritize customer safety, which is why we strictly monitor the removal process to ensure contaminants which may be in your insulation do not spread throughout the home.
Experience also translates to efficiency. An experienced, professional removal service will get the job done faster. That’s important because your attic insulation is crucial for your home’s energy efficiency. The longer your home goes without attic insulation, the higher your utility bills will creep.
Equipment
Insulation removal orange county is complicated by the insulation itself and its condition. Insulation is often removed as a result of damage, whether in the form of water damage and mold growth, or an active rodent infestation. Removing either of these requires the use of safety equipment to minimize exposure to contaminants.
Proper disposal techniques must also be used to ensure contaminants in mold spore or rodent feces and urine don’t spread through the air during removal. To this end, fiberglass batt insulation is typically stored in a bag, while blown-in insulation is removed using a special vacuum.
Be sure to work with a professional removal company that understands the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE). At the same time, the company you work with should prioritize the safety of everyone living in your home.
Clean-Up vs. Removal
While some companies might offer to remove your damaged or old insulation, they may not provide attic decontamination and cleanup service. While removing any old or contaminated insulation is a great start, a neglected attic may need remediation efforts before new insulation can be placed. A neglected attic is particularly concerning in situations where a rodent infestation has occurred. A failure to properly decontaminate your attic space may allow contaminants to continue circulating throughout your home, potentially impacting the air quality in your home for years to come.
When searching for an attic and mold removal service, be sure to seek out a company that offers decontamination and cleanup services as well. Properly decontaminating your attic space after any insulation removal can help ensure that your new insulation remains in good condition, while also protecting against contaminants circulating throughout your home.
Signs Your Attic Insulation May Be Bad
How do you know when to have your insulation replaced? Before you remove any insulation, be sure to consult with a professional like Attic Construction. A comprehensive inspection is the best way to tell if your attic insulation needs to be replaced.
Here are a few other signs that it might be time to schedule an attic insulation inspection:
#1 Rising Utility Bills
Rising utility bills can be a sure sign of damaged attic insulation. That’s because your attic insulation is an important regulator of the temperature in the conditioned spaces of your home. With poor attic insulation, your air-conditioner will need to work extra hard to keep your home cool on hot days, and your heating system will have to work overtime to keep your home warm on cold days. Schedule an attic insulation inspection to take back your home’s energy efficiency!
#2 Scratching Sounds or Bad Odors
Scratching sounds in your ceiling can be signs of a rodent infestation. Rodents love attics because they are away from predators, and attic insulation makes great nesting material. Two signs of a rodent infestation in your attic are scratching sounds in your walls or ceiling, or bad odors which typically emanate from feces and urine-soaked nesting materials.
#3 Temperature Fluctuations
If your home seems like it’s getting colder on cold nights, or hotter on hot days, your attic insulation may be the culprit. Your insulation helps maintain your home’s temperature by resisting heat transfer from the conditioned areas of your home to the unconditioned outside air. Attic insulation in poor health will compromise the effectiveness of that thermal barrier, resulting in greater temperature swings throughout the day in the conditioned spaces of your home.
#4 Dirty or Damaged Insulation
A glance at your current insulation can go a long way towards telling you if it’s time to have a professional look at it. Attic insulation that is dirty, faded, or has any sign of mold or pest damage is a clear sign that it’s time for an inspection. Old, dirty, or damaged insulation isn’t as effective of a thermal barrier, so you should address damaged or old insulation as soon as you notice it.
Closing Thoughts
Finding an excellent attic insulation removal service in Orange County doesn’t have to be difficult, but it is important that you use a professional to clean out your old insulation. Safety is critical during the insulation removal process, both for the individuals removing the old insulation and all of the household members.
If your utility bills are suddenly rising, or you’ve begun to suspect a rodent problem in your attic, don’t wait to address it. Compromised attic insulation will negatively impact the air quality and energy efficiency of your home.
Professionals like our team at Attic Construction have the experience and equipment necessary to make removing your old insulation a breeze! We even provide Orange County insulation installation and attic cleaning services alongside our removal service to make it one easy job for you! Aren’t sure whether you need your old insulation removed? An attic inspection is a great place to start. Contact us today to schedule your next attic inspection!
We also offer San Diego & Phoenix insulation removal, installation & rodent proofing, contact us today!
Sources:
- “Understanding Attic Venting”, https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-102-understanding-attic-ventilation
- “Measurement of Attic Temperatures and Cooling Energy Use in Vented and Sealed Attics in Las Vegas, Nevada”,https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-9701-measurement-of-attic-temperatures-and-cooling-energy-use-in-vented-and-sealed-attics-in-las-vegas-nevada/view
- “Keeping The Heat In – Chapter 5: Roofs and attics”, https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-homes/how-can-i-make-my-home-more-ener/keeping-heat/keeping-heat-chapter-5-roofs-and-attics/15637