Hantavirus: Potentially a life-threatening disease transmitted to people through rats, mice and other rodents. Humans can become infected with the Hantavirus through inhalation of the infected rodent urine, feces, and saliva.

Bubonic Plague: This is typically transmitted through the bite of a rodent itself, or, in other cases, by a flea that has been feeding off the blood of the infected rodent.

Salmonellosis: Salmonella can be spread through rodent feces coming into contact with food or water sources.

Rat-Bite-Fever: Humans can become be infected with this virus through consumption of contaminated foods from the infected rodents.

Attics can easily become a health hazard through the contamination of the rodent droppings. The insulation inside your attic can be destroyed, or contaminated by rodent feces and urine. Leaving contaminated insulation inside your attic can lead to health issues for the people living there. Having the attic sanitized and cleaned properly by a professional with the right tools and products would include removing the contaminated and damaged insulation and will guarantee you a healthier home and fresh air to breathe. Attic Cleaning In Lafayette uses the right products to sanitize your contaminated attic and the right attic vacuum to remove the insulation. Once it is taken out of the attic, the feces and debris left behind after the rodent outbreak will also be vacuumed and removed from the home. At Attic Cleaning In Lafayette, we provide attic insulation services. This entails replacing the contaminated insulation with fresh, high-quality cellulose insulation. Cellulose Insulation is highly recommended for home owners as it will ensure your home to be energy efficient. This type of insulation is made of recycled paper products and can last up to 100 years!

Is Air Sealing an Attic Worth it?

Your home is meant to be a safe, comfortable space you can relax in. Unfortunately, if your HVAC system is working nonstop, you have inconsistent heating and cooling from one room to the next, or your utility bill is spiking in the middle of summer, you may consider an attic insulation installation and air sealing project to help you save money and keep your home cozy year-round. 

So is air sealing the attic worth it? The answer is yes, but only if you can also ensure your home has proper insulation and ventilation. Let’s look closer at the role these three elements play in improving your home’s energy efficiency. 

The impact of air leakage

Air leaks occur throughout your home, and they are typically found wherever two different building materials meet. Doors and windows along any exterior wall can let outside air in if they aren’t properly sealed, but even little things like electrical outlets can cause issues. 

Attic air leaks are one of the major culprits because they lead to your roof, and they can reduce your energy efficiency throughout the year. In the winter, hot air has a tendency to rise. The various fixtures that penetrate your attic floor, like lights, fans, and the attic hatch make it easy for you to literally blow money away. In the summer, the hot sun can create a scorching attic, often as hot as 140 degrees, which can make it difficult to keep your home comfortable. Has this got you wondering how to air seal attic crawl spaces? 

You can attempt to find air leaks in your home. By turning off the HVAC system and using a candle or stick of incense, look for areas where the smoke or flame starts moving erratically. This is the source of a draft. The safest and smartest option is to hire a professional to perform a blower door test. This test can determine exactly how much energy loss you’re seeing from air leakage and quickly identify these areas so they can be sealed. 

Air sealing your attic space can reduce your energy use anywhere between 30-50%, but you won’t see the full benefits of air sealing attic crawl spaces if your home lacks proper insulation and there isn’t enough ventilation to allow sufficient airflow. 

How ventilation helps 

Attic ventilation moves warm air in the summer and cold air out of your attic and reduces strain on your HVAC system. A vented attic also prevents moisture buildup caused by condensation from ruining your insulation and rotting the support beams on your roof. 

There are a lot of factors that affect ventilation, including air leaks, the type of ventilation system that’s installed, and the design of your roof. The amount of insulation you have and where it’s installed can also reduce or improve the airflow. Our attic insulation team can ensure your ventilation system is working properly to avoid issues in regard to air-sealing attic spaces. 

The role of insulation 

Air leakage can account for some of your energy efficiency, but even once the home is well sealed, the thermal exchange can still occur through the walls, floor, and ceiling, and attic space. Insulation can prevent cold air or warm air from entering through these areas, and a professional can help you evaluate your insulation in several key areas. 

Most homes rely on an HVAC duct system to deliver conditioned air throughout their home, but over time the ducts can develop leaks or get obstructed by dirt and debris, which can reduce your indoor air quality. Simply cleaning and repairing your ducts and insulating them can address around 15% of your air leakage in your home, and when you combine with addressing issues in your floors, walls, and ceiling, you can eliminate nearly half of heat loss and gain in your home. 

With proper attic insulation, you can help your home’s HVAC system operate at peak efficiency. This will lower your monthly energy bill and help prevent costly maintenance issues. Insulating the crawl space can prevent cold floors in the winter and keep your pipes from freezing, as well as reduce heat from rising through the floor.