How To Remove Insulation From Attic?

Owning a home requires a lot of attention to detail. Whether you have a new build or have bought an older home, understanding how insulation works in your attic is important. Keep in mind that at some point you will need to have your insulation removed from the attic and replaced. Depending on the type of insulation determines how long it will last. Curious as to how to remove insulation from an attic? Wear safety gear, then use the recommended vacuum to suck out the insulation into an insulation bag.

Let’s take a look below at more details regarding attic insulation removal.

Reasons to Remove Insulation From Attic

Getting rid of your old insulation and replacing it with new insulation is an important project. Let’s take a look below at some reasons why Insulation removal is so vital to keeping your investment safe.

• Mold – If your insulation gets wet from leaking pipes or a leaking roof, your insulation will become moldy. The mold can travel from the insulation to other structures of your home and create a huge problem.
• Rodent infestation – Rodents will eat away at your insulation. Also, their urine and feces will cause damage to your insulation. If this occurs, you will have to replace your insulation.
• Damage or alterations – If the insulation becomes damaged or disturbed it might not be as effective as it was when installed. Any movement to the insulation reduces the seal that it created when installed.

What Tools Do I Need?

Just like every project, you will need some tools and equipment to accomplish the project. Make sure that you have the following items below in order to successfully complete the project.

• High-powered insulation vacuum
• Insulation bags for the vacuum
• Gasoline for the vacuum power
• Hose extensions to reach the attic
• Respirator
• Goggles
• Heavy-duty work gloves
• Long clothing to cover all of your skin
• Headlamp
• Duct Tape
• Drop cloth

Three Things to Look For When Removing Insulation

Before you attempt to remove any insulation, you need to ensure that the following contaminants are removed. However, if you are not properly trained on how to remove these contaminants, you will need to seek a professional. Let’s take a look below at what those contaminants are.

• Rodent – If you get into the attic space and notice rodent dropping, dead carcasses, or smell urine, you will want to hire a professional to remove the insulation. These situations could cause you to develop an illness if you aren’t careful and don’t have the proper protective gear.
• Mold – If you notice mold in the attic or on the insulation, you should immediately call a professional. Mold remediation is necessary at this point. Do not subject your health to the potential dangers of mold.
• Asbestos – Never attempt to remove asbestos alone. There are specific guidelines provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Protection Agency for removal. Purchase a home testing kit for asbestos from your local hardware store, or reach out to your local professional. Only a professionally licensed asbestos removal company may remove the asbestos from your home.

What Happens Now That I’m Done?

Removing insulation from your attic is a process. The clean-up must be done in a meticulous manner. You don’t want to leave any old insulation behind as it will interfere with the true sealing of the attic. Let’s take a look below at what is involved with the cleanup.

• Vacuum – Take the vacuum hose and move it back outside once you’re done.
• Clean the surfaces – If any materials are left behind you want to be careful not to stir them up. Take a damp cloth and wipe down any areas that still have residual insulation. Then, make sure that the wet areas are dried properly.
• Remove Protective coverings – If you placed sheets or drapes inside the home so that insulation did not circulate throughout you will need to carefully remove those items in case some insulation did stick to them.
• Dispose of the insulation bags – In most cases, your local municipality will have a code regarding the proper disposal of old insulation. This is in the event of asbestos being in the insulation. Be sure to call to ensure that all bags are properly disposed of.

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Recommended Maintenance

Now that you know about removing attic insulation, there are a few other areas to take a look at around the home.

One of those is how much insulation is too much. Depending on the area of the country you live in will determine the amount of insulation recommended. You will have an R-Value which is the resistance to heat flow.

Another one is laying insulation over electrical wires in the attic. You can lay the insulation over electrical wires, but you have to make sure that it is fiberglass material so it is fireproof.

Lastly, the last thing a homeowner wants to see in the home is mold. If you have a large enough area of mold, you may need remediation. Mold remediation can last from 48 hours to several weeks, depending on the amount in the home.

When Do I Call A Professional?

If you are looking to remove the insulation from your attic, you should call a professional. Attempting to remove insulation without the proper knowledge could cause more damage to your attic space. Also, you could develop some health issues. Insulation in the attic is necessary to seal the attic and keep your home energy efficient. Additionally, it can prevent leaks from getting into your main living space. Reach out to a professional insulation removal contractor for this project. Also, call your local home inspection team so that they can inspect the entire attic space to determine if you need other repairs beyond the insulation.

Conclusion

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Attic spaces are most often used to store boxes and holiday decorations that do not fit in your garage. Often times they can be built out to become additional workspaces or even added bedrooms. In all cases, insulation is necessary for your attic. Getting a home inspection to determine if there is more damage to your home beyond the insulation is key. If you want to ensure that the insulation has properly sealed the attic call on your local home inspection team. Reach out to Advantage Inspections to have your attic inspected during a home inspection here in West Central, Florida.