St Louis - St Charles Insulation Removal.
When is Insulation Removal Necessary?
Some situations demand that existing insulation be removed from attic spaces or walls, whether it's been contaminated by pests or infiltrated with moisture.
The main reason why you would need insulation removal is due to water damage from a leaking roof. Another reason is damage from animals, such as mice, rats, bats, squirrels, birds or raccoons, all of which leave behind their feces and urine. These substances are harmful to human health because they can cause respiratory problems and disease. As such, they should be removed promptly. Often times, you can't just remove the urine and feces. You need to remove all the affected insulation and add brand new insulation afterwards.
Let's take more in-depth look at each reason for removal and what's entailed.
1. Contaminated Insulation
The removal of insulation is not a DIY project. It should always be handled by a qualified professional who can assess the situation and determine how best to remove the offending material.
As the homeowner, you have to go through the proper steps before the issue can be rectified. If the issue is a dead animal, for instance, you first need to call an animal control or removal company to ensure the carcass is properly removed and all exits and entries that may have been used by the animal have been closed off.
The area will then have to be sprayed and deodorized before new insulation can be added.
2. Water Damaged Insulation
When big storms roll through, they can cause leaks in your attic. That water has to go somewhere and it usually ends up saturating your insulation. This moisture can then lead to mold growth, which if left untreated can lead to a whole host of health problems for your family, including:
- Wheezing
- Rash
- Watery eyes
- Runny nose
- Itchy eyes
- Coughing
- Redness of the eyes
The effects can be even worse in the case of toxic black mold. The bottom line is, water-saturated insulation must be removed and the leak must be fixed before new insulation can be added.
3. Fire/Smoke Damaged Insulation
Even if you experience a small fire, the resulting smoke and soot can get into your insulation and stay there, leaving an awful smell for years to come. Left untreated, mold can also grow. The only way to fix a fire or smoke damaged attic is to take out the old insulation and add new.
4. Excessive Insulation
Particularly in older homes, attics are filled with dirty, dusty, contaminated layers of insulation. When you have too many layers of insulation up there, this can lead to moisture problems which can then lead to moldy stains on your walls and ceilings.
How is Insulation Removed?
In the case of loose fill or blown in insulation, an extraction machine is used to suck out the insulation. In the case of fiberglass batt removal, it must be performed manually, one batt at a time.
When NOT to Remove Insulation
Because loose fill cellulose is designed to get into all nooks and crannies, coverage is complete and comprehensive. This material is blown in with a hose, quickly filling many of the cracks and crevices in the attic, and conforming to all areas. Blown insulation provides excellent coverage in an attic, as it blankets all of the wooden crossbeams, plumbing pipes, electrical wiring, and cables. You can't get this kind of all-over coverage with fiberglass batting.
Contact Addict Insulation
To learn more about our insulation removal services, contact us at 636-233-7314. We are honest and upfront about the need to remove insulation!
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