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Energy efficiency and whole home comfort is one reason to schedule an attic inspection and replace outdated insulation. However, an attic inspection can also help to locate sources of toxins that compromise indoor air quality. If necessary, we’ll remove old or dilapidated insulation, eliminate pest, mold, or mildew infestations, sanitize the entire attic space, and install new insulation.
We can also help you identify other toxic sources, eliminating toxins in the home so you benefit from optimized indoor air quality and can breathe easy again.
Here are the five steps attic solutions contractors can optimize your attic space, eliminate toxins in the home, and keep improving IAQ.
The first step is to schedule an attic inspection with a local, licensed insulation contractor. You’d be amazed at what we have found up in attics. In addition to years, or decades, of dust and debris, we often find old paint cans or other household chemicals that are slowly off-gassing toxic fumes into your home’s air space.
This means they are able to seep through walls or into HVAC ducts, polluting the home’s interior air. If you live in a home that is 10 years old or older, we may also find other toxic sources. These include things such as:
Once we know what we’re dealing with, we’ll create a plan to remove toxins from the space, clean up the mess, and install fresh, new insulation.
When toxins have been located and identified, it’s a good idea to remove them. If you’re using the attic as a space to store old paints, varnishes, sealants, or other household chemicals, we recommend relocating those to a storage area or shed that is separate from your home. That’s the best way to keep the fumes out of your living space. Waste toxins can be taken away to disposal sites that accept household toxic waste.
If the source of the toxins is rodent or pest waste, or mold/mildew infestations, the debris should be removed. Take precautions to prevent further pest infestations by removing access to the home and learning more about natural ways to repel rodents and pests from your attic space. Any damaged or water rotted insulation should also be removed.
When all of the toxic materials and waste have been removed, it’s time to perform a full attic cleanout and sanitization process. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. While it can be a DIY project, we recommend using professionals. Our industrial, high-performance HEPA vacuums, combined with the right protective gear and expertise allow us to perform the entire attic clean and sanitation safely and without making a mess.
Once the space has been cleared out and cleaned up, we use professional, eco-safe sanitizing products that eliminate odors and get rid of any residual toxins that may have settled into cracks, nooks, crannies, or structural wood grains. We’ll also clean out your HVAC ducts and crawl spaces upon request.
The roof and attic system go hand in hand, and both of them rely on adequate ventilation to do their job properly. Without ventilation, the temperature differences between indoor and outdoor air make the attic vulnerable to condensation and moisture control issues. In addition to creating an unregulated humidity system, this makes your attic more prone to mold and mildew issues.
And, of course, without proper ventilation, any toxic fumes present in your attic or home space have a harder time getting out. Over time, this leads to poor indoor air quality that can compromise your health. In fact, the EPA says that the average indoor air quality in American homes is often worse than the polluted air outside.
Your insulation contractor can help you establish whether your attic is properly ventilated or not. If not, we recommend getting in touch with your local roofing contractor to provide adequate ventilation before replacing your insulation to protect your investment.
Finally, replacing your attic insulation - combined with its sanitized foundation and upgraded ventilation - eliminates toxins in the home by preventing the development of mold and mildew, or the rapid breakdown of insulation products, which have the ability to compromise indoor air quality via spores or off-gassing. By replacing outdated insulation, focusing on more eco-friendly options, you’ll automatically eliminate potential toxins and help to improve indoor air quality.
Ready to eliminate toxins in your home with an attic makeover? Contact the pros at Attic Solutions and schedule an appointment.