Removing Wet Attic Insulation

Wet insulation is inefficient but more immediately it can be a hidden risk.

Removing wet attic insulation.

During that time it will also degrade wooden structure and trigger attic mold growth. To clean up droppings you need good respiratory protection masks and clothing that can be bleached or discarded. Blown in insulation comes in two types. For walkthrough areas place a sheet of plastic over the opening and secure with tape.

When a roof leak leads to saturated insulation that insulation almost always needs to be replaced. Wet cellulose is generally not salvageable and needs to be removed then new material blown in to replace it. Coping with wet insulation if the fiberglass within your wall cavity or in your attic becomes wet from a leaky roof or burst pipe it will lose insulating effectiveness until the material dries out. Before you begin the project to remove insulation from the attic verify the insulation does not.

However you ll need to drain it frequently in order for it to function properly. Believe it or not there are situations in a home when you should remove the old attic insulation before adding more over the existing and in this short video. The plant fibers of cellulose wick water right up. Lift the insulation in this area to find the pooling water.

If the attic is not large enough for a person to move around try tying a rope to the vacuum. If the leak is more extensive the cellulose will have wicked up the moisture and spread it throughout a large area. If your leak is very small you may be able to simply remove the affected area of cellulose insulation and let it dry out that will take a while. Drying out a wet attic placing a dehumidifier inside the attic will help to draw out moisture from the surrounding environment.

Batt and blaket insulation. Wet insulation is bad for your roof your building and its occupants. With these in place you ll be able to walk around the attic while removing the insulation. Place a large tarp wherever you plan to unload the filled garbage bags.

Use the tape measure to roughly locate where the water is dripping through the ceiling below. Insulation sits just below the roof s membrane. Gradually pull the vacuum toward you as it sucks up the insulation. To maneuver around the attic safely lay large planks at least 6 inches wide across the joists.

Once the dehumidifier s storage tank is full it won t be able to remove any more moisture. When a leak allows water to seep in through. Some attic spaces are very small and tight finding creative ways to maneuver the vacuum inside the attic will go a long way. Cellulose insulation is made from.