You might not think about your attic insulation very often, but out here in Eastern Washington, Insulation in Spokane is doing heavy lifting nearly nine months out of the year. Between freezing winter stretches and dry summer heat waves, your attic materials take a beating. Spokane Spray Foam Insulation sees plenty of homes losing money and comfort simply because blown-in fiberglass or cellulose settled or shifted over time.
What Regular Maintenance Looks Like
Blown-in insulation does not need to be vacuumed or brushed, but Attic Insulation does require a quick visual check at least once a year. Pop your attic hatch open in the fall before the freezing temperatures hit. Look across the surface. Is it relatively level? Cellulose and loose-fill fiberglass can shift if you have had roof contractors walking around up there or if wind is sneaking in through unsealed soffit vents. Spokane Spray Foam Insulation wants to make sure the depth is even across your entire ceiling joists so you do not end up with thin spots leaking heat.
Keep an eye out for any signs of roof leaks. Spokane winters bring heavy snow loads that turn into spring runoff, and a slow, unnoticed roof leak will pack down loose-fill insulation fast. Once cellulose gets soaking wet, it loses its thermal value and can start smelling or growing mold. Check your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans, too. They need to vent all the way outside the roof, not just dump moist air right into the attic space where it can ruin your Insulation in Spokane.
Warning Signs Your Insulation Needs Help
Your utility bill is usually the first storyteller. If your Avista bill spikes out of nowhere during a freezing January cold snap, your attic might be venting heat straight through compressed insulation. Another dead giveaway is ice dams hanging off your gutters. When heat escapes through thin spots in your attic, it melts the snow on your roof, which then refreezes at the cold eaves. If you notice uneven temperatures from room to room down below, or if dust and drafts seem more prevalent, your blanket of Attic Insulation is not performing the way it should.
Extending the Life of Your Work
You can protect your property by keeping your attic space properly ventilated and sealed. Do not use your attic for heavy storage if it requires compressing the loose fill down below the recommended depth. If you need storage space up there, talk to Spokane Spray Foam Insulation about raised platforms that leave the Insulation in Spokane lofted and fluffy. Sealing air leaks from your living space into the attic before new material goes down stops warm household air from blowing straight through your insulation.
When to Call a Professional
If you peer into your attic and see that the insulation has settled below the framing members, or if you spot patches of dark staining, mold, or critter nests, it is time to bring in some backup. Rodents love burrowing into loose-fill material during chilly weather, and contaminated insulation needs to be safely removed and replaced. For Spokane homes and businesses, Spokane Spray Foam Insulation is here for all your Attic Insulation needs.