Common Insulation Issues

 

The insulation in your home can greatly impact your comfort and utility bills, as well as the environment, so you want to ensure that it’s in good shape. You may not even be aware of many common insulation issues, but here are the most common reasons why your insulation might need replacing or updating.

Fire Risks with Inadequate Fire Retardant Materials

When choosing insulation for your home, you want to ensure that it will protect your property from fire and damage. There are a few different options for insulating, such as fiberglass batts or rolls of material used in blown-in insulation. Be sure to choose the right product for your needs so you can keep the risks low in your home.

Improper Ventilation, Regulations, or Permits

Installing insulation without proper ventilation can cause deadly carbon monoxide in your home. Before you buy, hire a professional to ensure your house meets all local, state, and federal codes regarding safe insulation installation.

If it doesn’t, an added cost may be necessary to make your new insulation safe before installing it. But it’s worth paying for peace of mind that you won’t later be faced with a house full of poison gas or even a total collapse.

Attic Stairway Blockage That Leads to Mold Growth

The attic stairway can become a perfect hiding place for dust, dirt, and insulation. When these particles collect into a single area, they have nowhere to go but down, landing on your insulation below. This is one of the most common causes of mold growth in many attics. If you see that there’s no insulation on some or all of your attic stairs, call a professional to come and clean up any existing mold.

Outside Air Leaks Into Attic Spaces

If your home’s insulation has been properly installed, there should be no gaps where air can leak into an attic space. However, homes are not always insulated properly during construction. Over time, even if installed correctly, it can deteriorate and lose its ability to block outside air from entering a home through leaks.

When it comes to your insulation system, if you can feel a draft coming through a wall or window, then outside air may be entering your home in areas you didn’t know about before.

Vapor Insulation Installations For Suffolk County

At Greenpro Cleaning and Restoration, we want to help you protect your home for the long run. We’ll be sure to install a vapor barrier that lasts and provides your home with the protection and comfort it needs.

Preparing Your Attic for Rainy Season

 

Your attic is often one of the first lines of defense between the interior of your home and the outside. If your attic is not prepared for the rainy season, then the rest of your home is in danger of facing water damage or mold growth. By taking a few simple steps, you can save yourself a lot of time and money in repairs later. Here's how to get everything ready before more April showers come along:

 

Inspect Your Roof

Before constant, tedious rain begins to fall, give your attention to your roof. Ensure any potential problem areas are inspected and found so that repairs can be completed in time. If you have a leaky roof, it's essential that you install new shingles before it's too late and the water damage travels through your house.

 

Air Duct Cleaning

Did you know that debris and dirt in your air ducts and vents can prevent air from circulating in your attic? When this space doesn't have constant air moving freely, dampness and moisture can fester.

There are many sources of moisture that can affect your attic or crawlspace. Open vents, lack of a vapor barrier, un-vented appliances, and foundation sidewall penetration can allow enough dampness to keep the humidity levels excessively high. This, in turn, causes odors to appear, and bugs and critters that like damp environments will want to come and invade your space. Make sure you get those ducts properly cleaned for the season!

 

Invest in Seals and Insulation

The best way to prevent mold from growing in your attic during the rainy season is by having a tight seal around areas where water could seep through, such as windows or vents. And the moment you suspect there's a leak or issues with your insulation, it's time to contact a professional.

It's important to ensure that all leaks are sealed and any exposed insulation is protected from mold growth or insect infestation. If you don't take care of these things, then the rest of your home will be in danger!

Get In Touch With Us For All Your Cleaning and Restoration Needs

From attic cleanings to water damage removal, cleaning and organizing your home can be challenging to deal with, and it is often best to bring in some professionals to help. Contact GreenPro Cleaning and Restoration to take care of your ducts, attics, crawl spaces, and water damage needs.

Is My Attic Supposed to be Cold?

 

 

It's not the best sign if your attic is cold whenever you pass by it or go in. While some attics are naturally cooler than others due to their location (for example, one on the north side of the house), if your attic is cold year-round even when temperatures outside are warm enough for shorts and T-shirts - this could be an indication of a bigger problem.

 

Roof Vents

Check to see if there are any gaps in the roof vent that allows for airflow. If so, caulk these up with weather stripping or duct tape. It's essential to seal up vulnerable areas like this around your home so that you don't have to deal with cold spots in every room.

 

Poor Ventilation or Insulation

Ventilation is vital for several reasons, but it's crucial in attics. Poor ventilation causes cold attics even during warmer weather seasons. Attic insulation can also be damaged by the moisture from poor ventilation, which leads to decreased insulation effectiveness and an increased risk of mold growth, so you need to get this fixed up as soon as possible.

Our Insulation Process

Very often, GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration sees sub-floor insulation that is installed incorrectly. The two most common problems that usually need to be corrected are insulation installed upside down and insulation that is not secured correctly. Insulation does play an important part in keeping your attic or crawlspace in good condition.

Unfortunately, when insulation is installed upside down and the craft paper is wet, it must be removed and disposed of. GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration will evaluate the current insulation; if the insulation can continue to be used, we will tell you. If not, we will discuss the available options to provide you with the best and most cost-effective solution.

Vapor Insulation Installations For Suffolk County

At Greenpro Cleaning and Restoration, we want to help you protect your home for the long run. We’ll be sure to install a vapor barrier that lasts and provides your home with the protection and comfort it needs.

Improvements to Make to Your Attic in 2020

When it comes time to make upgrades to your home in 2020, don’t forget about your attic! Improving your attic gives you a prime opportunity to increase your home’s value while also creating a space that you’ll want to use more often.

Here are four home improvements to make your attic better this year.

Air Sealing

It’s not uncommon for attics to have large air leaks. This can make it nearly impossible for you to keep your home at a reasonable temperature. By air sealing your attic, you will alleviate these issues and reduce your home’s heating and cooling costs.

Insulating

If your attic isn’t insulated, this will negatively affect your entire home’s energy-efficiency. Without adequate insulation in your attic, you’ll lose a lot of conditioned air during summer, and you’ll lose much-needed warmth during winter. Your roof can also swell because of heat building up in your home’s attic. Insulating your attic with reduce all of these problems.

Decluttering

Has your attic become a place where you store everything? If this is the case, then you should declutter it in the months ahead. While an attic is a good place to store your items, you probably have a lot of things that you simply don’t need anymore. These items might be taking up a lot of space that could be better used for a different purpose. Before 2020 is over, make it a goal to sell or donate the unnecessary belongings in your attic.

Repurposing

Your attic can do more than just store some of your unused items. You can repurpose it so that it becomes another space for you to use. Your attic can become an office, playroom, movie room, or even a spare bedroom. You will probably need to paint it, add flooring, install a ceiling fan, and furnish it. If you always feel like your home is just a little short on space, then making your attic into an extra room is definitely a project that you should undertake in the new year.

Before you get started…

A clean attic is a must! Whether you plan on repurposing your attic, using it for storage, or simply upgrading its insulation, make sure to get the space thoroughly cleaned first. At GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, we offer professional attic cleaning services to prevent common problems related to moisture, pests, and poor indoor air quality.