Most people don’t think twice about cleaning and insulating their attics. At least, not until strange smells, rodent infestations, or other annoying issues appear and force them to take a peek into their attic. With basic attic cleaning, inspection, and repairs, families in Everett, WA can avoid dealing with the side effects of a poorly insulated attic and can reap great benefits instead.
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Attic Cleaning
To discover why cleaning and insulating your attic is important, we need to take a look at what attic restoration looks like practically. A thorough attic cleaning by a professional attic cleaning and insulation service in Everett, WA gives you the perfect opportunity to analyze the condition of your attic. Here are a few of the things you might find in your attic.
Rodent Infestation
Following the cold winter months, one might discover the presence or remains of a family of rodents that made a comfortable home in your attic. Attic cleaning will serve to remove any droppings, junk, dead rodents or urine traces from your attic to protect your home and family against infectious viruses. Read more about how to deal with rodents here.
Dust and Dirt
As the contents of your attic sit untouched for months on end, a substantial amount of dust and dirt can begin to form on top of your stored belongings. The stack effect of air transfer means that if you have a dirty attic, you’ve got dirty air in your home. A thorough attic cleaning can help to keep your stored items clean and protect your air quality.
Holes and Cracks
Over time, wood exposure and general wear can create holes or cracks in the walls and corners of your attic. These small spaces allow outside air to circulate into your attic and wreck havoc on your energy bills. During the summer, families want to keep their homes cool and comfortable. But with the circulation of air between their attics and living areas, the hot air that finds its way into the attic is then forced down into the home and the cool air is allowed to escape. When cleaning out your attic, a skilled attic insulator would be able to identify where air circulation is occurring and the best methods of sealing those areas.
Mold
Water and moisture can also find its way into your attic through holes and cracks. If left alone, the accumulated moisture will condense and become an ideal breeding ground for mold and wood rot. Not only will a moldy attic affect the structural integrity of your home, but these colonies release mold spores and unpleasant odors into the air that is then circulated down into your living spaces. Families can protect their health by cleaning out and insulating their attics before too much damage is done.
Here at Clean Crawls, attic cleanliness and integrity is one of our top priorities. We specialize in cleaning, insulating, and restoring attics throughout Everett so that families can enjoy the comfort of their homes. Our team works to analyze the condition of your attic during the cleaning process so as to provide you with the solutions that match your attic’s needs.
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Attic Insulation:
Following a thorough cleaning, proper air sealing and attic insulation should be performed to protect your attic from any future threat. Proper attic insulation and restoration will seal the gaps or cracks that might permit moisture, heat, or pests to enter your attic.
In addition, attic insulation can help to reduce energy expenses during the summer months by locking in the cool temperatures inside and resisting the heat transfer from warm air outside. Families have been able to reduce energy expenses by about 25% or more, simply by cleaning out and insulating their attics. There are several types of attic insulations available, each with their own list of benefits and drawbacks.
Blown-In Insulation (Fiberglass or Cellulose)
Blown-in insulation starts out as large blocks of recycled paper materials or fiberglass insulation that is then chewed up by a machine into small pieces and sprayed out into your attic. This thick layer of insulation creates a seamless coat of insulation that covers the floor of your attic and gets into corners and crevices that are harder to reach.
One of the drawbacks to using blown-in insulation in your attic is that it is not water resistant. This spongy materials is quick to soak up any water that might appear in your attic and does not dry out. If this occurs, you attic will then become an ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew.
Roll or Batt Insulation (Fiberglass or Rockwool)
Batt insulation is commonly seen in large rolls or laid out in large blankets. These materials can be installed along the walls of your attic to block transfer of heat through the walls and are a great way to cover large sections of space.
Similar to blown-in insulation however, this type of insulation is very water absorbent. In addition, batts that are installed inappropriately can leave gaps and holes between the blankets. These gaps can still allow energy to transfer and reduce your home’s energy efficiency.
Spray Foam
Spray foam is one of the top methods of attic insulation available today. This unique insulation is created by the chemical reaction of two composite materials combining and expanding. This expansive insulation naturally seals up any cracks, holes, or crevices that blown-in or batt insulations could not have insulated. In addition, spray foam insulation is rodent and water resistant, giving your attic additional protection against infestations and water damage.