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American Attic, Oakland, California

How to Remove Attic Insulation Safely & Effectively

Attic Insulation Removal
Attic Insulation Removal

How to Remove Attic Insulation Safely & Effectively

Should Old Attic Insulation Be Removed?

Attic insulation deteriorates with time due to a buildup of soil, pollen, and/or moisture. Your energy consumption will rise as a result.

According to The US department of Energy,Insulation in your home provides resistance to heat flow and lowers your heating and cooling costs.”

Your house would  be less warm in both the winter and summer months if the attic insulation is old and worn out.

Attic Insulation Removal

Attic insulation removal can be a difficult and time-consuming job. There are several explanations why homeowners should be worried about the condition of their insulation.

Here are our top 3 concerns on why

  • Insulation that has been altered or destroyed will create inefficiencies and cost you more on energy bills
  • Rodent infestations or water damage often necessitate the removal of insulation.
  • Mold can grow on wet insulation, causing structural issues.

Planning ahead of time would make attic insulation removal smoother and save you money. Follow our steps on how you can do this

Clear the Area

The first step is to clear the attic of any contaminants; look for the following:

  1. Asbestos– according to World Health Organization all types of asbestos cause lung cancer. Do not attempt to remove any insulation until you are certain there is no asbestos present. 

An inspection kit can be purchased from a home improvement retailer, or you can call an inspector. Insulation samples may need to be submitted to a lab for inspection.

If asbestos is present, you must find a professional to clean the insulation and dispose of it properly.

  1. Mold– usually grows in places with a lot of moisture
  2. Rodent– Insulation may be contaminated by droppings, urine, and decomposing carcasses.

Remove Old Insulation

If there is no asbestos, mold, or rats, it is normally possible to remove attic insulation yourself. Some insulation is simpler to remove than others.

Fortunately, homeowners are more likely to find the simpler kind, which is blown-in fiberglass or cellulose insulation. Removing rolls or batting is a little more difficult.

Below is a list of things to do before removing the insulation:

  • If the attic is too small to walk about in, consider tying a cord to the vacuum.Pull the vacuum up the insulation, slowly drag it toward you.
  • Use a specialized HEPA-filter rated, high-powered, large volume vacuum with a large capacity. These may be bought or leased from a commercial equipment leasing company.
  • Make sure you have the proper protective gear: Goggles, and a decent mask or respirator. Blown-in insulation is more messy and difficult to contain than other types, so be extra careful.
  • Keep dust/particles out of the air by using big rolls of plastic sheeting. Taping off parts of your home will help 
  • Make a mobile safe working area out of scrap wood. It allows you to keep a safe distance from the remaining insulation while still making it easier to enter corners and crevices.
  • Take extra caution when moving around an unfinished attic.
  • Empty the vacuum into sealable, big heavy-duty garbage containers.
  • Dispose Responsibly 
  • Fiberglass insulation may be recycled to produce fresh insulation in some cases. Check for a nearby fiberglass factory.
  • Because of the fire retardants used in the component, cellulose insulation cannot be recycled in certain cases. Be sure you do your homework and remember that you can dispose of the insulation after it has been removed.

At first glance, removing attic insulation can seem to be an easy task. However, it is not always a simple process and can cause a host of issues for homeowners. If the job gets too complicated, don’t be afraid to seek professional assistance.

Reasons to Hire Professionals for Attic Insulation

Think carefully before attempting attic insulation on your own. If you install new insulation in your attic, you can encounter a number of risks, such as a rat infestation or dangerous materials. 

In all cases, professionals will know what to do, and you will get competent results. 

A number of homeowners discover they have pest management issues soon after attempting to install attic insulation on their own. 

If this happens to you and you don’t know what to do, you’ll have to contact experts regardless. In case of a problem like this, it’s always best to get help from a professional.

There are a number of hazardous materials that may look harmless. Materials such as asbestos may be harmless if not disturbed, but you can damage it when building insulation. The experts will handle the risk so that you do not have to.

With a professional insulation contractor, you can rest assured the job will be done right!

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