Do you know what’s in your attic? Besides boxes of old baby clothes and cabana wear (thanks for that reference, Frank Costanza), of course there’s insulation. That insulation can contain some pretty nasty pests including mice, rats, wasps, squirrel, even cockroaches! Those pests can create animal-caused bacteria and fungal pathogens and their urine can cause mold (gross). All of that can become airborne, eventually traveling into the main living areas of your home and making you and your family sick.
No matter what type of insulations you may have in there, it’s not possible to clean it. So, what CAN you do? Here are five steps that will have you breathing easier in no time.
Step 1: Eliminate the Pest Problem
The only way to make sure it doesn’t continue to happen is to have a trusted pest control company eliminate the pest problem completely. Without performing that first step, the next four are a waste of time and money.
Step 2: Identify and Fix the Entry Points
Those pests are getting in some way and until you fix that, they will continue to do so. The pest control company will be able to identify the entry points and may even be able to fix some of them. Depending on the scope of the repairs, you may also have to call in a roofer or contractor.
Step 3: Remove the Contaminated Insulation
That stained and urine-soaked (sorry, there’s really no other way to say it) insulation needs to get out of there. Not only could it be making your family sick, but there is most certainly a persistent and extremely unpleasant odor. Most of the odor and the bacteria will go out with the contaminated insulation.
Step 4: Clean Up the Area
A full cleaning is advised to disinfect the contaminated area after the insulation is removed. It’s the only way to really know you’ve taken care of the problem entirely. It’s not fun, but it is super rewarding. Clean out that cluttered attic, donate some items, walk through memory lane, and organize it all. After organizing the attic, you just may want to move on to closets, the playroom, the basement, etc.
Step 5: Blow in New Insulation
Of course, your home needs insulation. It keeps the warm air in during the colder months and the cool air in during warmer months. Lack of insulation can cause deficiencies, which can result in your heating or cooling systems working overtime. That can crank up your energy bill and puts unnecessary stress on your HVAC systems. You don’t want to have to replace those sooner than necessary. So, insulation is necessary. We all know that one. Replacing the insulation with new is the final step.
The good news is, OPC Pest Services can help you with almost every step along the way. With our Attic Insulation Program, not only can we eliminate the pest problem, but we will remove the old insulation and blow in new insulation. You’ll have to clean out the attic yourself. But hey, you’ll find your old yearbooks, so… score. Give OPC a call today.