Though attics are typically hot and dry a leaky roof or pipe condensation or severe weather can cause water to enter your attic.
Water leak on attic insulation.
The two most common types of insulation fiberglass batts and blown in cellulose loose fill are vulnerable to attic water damage in two specific ways.
Wet insulation increases the burden on the building itself and over time can lead to warping and other structural damage.
It creates a breeding ground for mold and mildew and ruins the air trapping pockets that block heat flow.
Once this is done the existing ventilation is usually more than enough to keep the attic dry.
With the attic cleared of any obstructions it s time to clean up the old insulation.
While in your attic look for areas where the insulation is darkened see photo a result of filtering dusty air from the house.
It is important to stop air leaks because a heated house is much like a chimney.
In cold weather you may see frosty areas in the insulation caused by warm moist air condensing and freezing as it hits the cold attic air.
Insulation sits just below the roof s membrane.
Water leaks occur through roof failure ice dams and water condensation or frost build up inside an attic.
At the very least shingles.
Insulation in the attic is often the first victim when roof leaks occur or when plumbing pipes routed through the attic leak.
When a leak allows water to seep in through the outer membrane and saturate the insulation below that moisture can deteriorate the roof on multiple fronts.
Water is insulation s enemy.
Water in your attic can damage wood beams insulation and even.
This is done with powerful specialized vacuums for blown in insulation or by rolling up batting insulation and placing it into specialized bags for contaminated material.
Not sealing attic air leaks first no amount of insulation is going to help if you don t seal your attic properly says olson.
In warmer weather you ll find water staining in these same areas.
Rainy weather causes the first type of leak to be discovered.
The best way to fix a wet attic is to stop air movement or leaks from the house.
Loss of insulating value.
Both a house and chimney are containers of warm air surrounded by cold air.
Box out light fixtures.