Unfinished attics can be dangerous if you don’t have strong flooring or if there are harmful particles in the air. Attics are susceptible to mold, and it can be dangerous if pests get stuck inside. Animal droppings and loose insulation or sawdust can make dangerous breathing conditions in an attic.
Is attic mold causing health problems in your home?
Attic mold can cause health problems from allergies to mental health impairments. Mold is not something you want in your home! You may be wondering, how did the mold get here, and how do I get rid of it?! Can I DIY or do I really need professional help? We answer all your questions and more.
Is it safe to live in an unfinished attic?
Harmful particles and dust can hang in the air in unfinished attics, and that is one of their main downsides. It is not safe to use an unfinished attic as a living space, but you can safely store items if you are careful. Unfinished attics do not count as square footage, and that can impact your resale value.
Are Attic attics energy efficient?
Attics are only as useful as they are energy efficient, for better or worse. You can save a small fortune when your attic is well-sealed and has no leaking air. Some of the best ways to improve your attic’s energy efficiency include: Use a radiant barrier to help regulate the temperature in your attic and the rest of your home.
What are the different types of attics?
Truss attics, scuttle attics, vented, unvented, and garage attics are among the most common attic types. Scuttle attics have pull-down stairs are only for storage, and truss attics are unfinished and have structural trusses. Vented attics are energy efficient but can cause roof leaks, and unvented attics work as a living space.
When Are You To Old To Do Pest Control?
Can you walk in an attic?
Who is Jerry Schappert?
Is there a danger in the attic?
Can living in a attic make you sick?
You can clean your house all you want but if the attic is full of dust, you will still have health issues. Dust mites blown into the air cause severe colds, sneezing, watery eyes and asthma. The dust could be coming directly through openings on the roof or blown into the living space by your HVAC unit.
Is it possible to live in an attic?
A great way of increasing residential space for a growing family, turning an attic into residential space can also be a good opportunity to reduce your heating costs once and for all.
How can I make my attic safe?
Attic Safety: Protect Yourself In The AtticWear the proper protective gear. ... Wear a hoodie or a baseball cap. ... Take careful precautions in an unfinished attic. ... Strong odors or smells. ... Avoid disturbing insulation. ... Beware the buzz or flight of stinging insects. ... Know how to walk around the attic to maintain attic safety.
Is attic air safe to breathe?
Attic air may contain contaminants, including mouse droppings, fiberglass, asbestos, and mold. If this contaminated air gets sucked into the living space, it can cause health problems for the occupants.
Is it OK to walk in attic?
1:483:44Walking around in an attic: be careful - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhere you're walking. And also down here. You don't want to walk in certain. Areas. Now say when youMoreWhere you're walking. And also down here. You don't want to walk in certain. Areas. Now say when you're walking here. I can walk on this. And I can walk on this 2x4.
Is it safe to sleep in the attic?
The number of safety hazards in an attic are plenty. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, these hazards include: Poor ventilation and fine particulate dust that affects breathing. Low-clearance rafters that affect the safety of your head.
Is it safe to put heavy things in the attic?
Be Careful What You Store in an Attic Even if your roof is well-maintained, an attic floor is just joists for the room below. This is not a sturdy foundation upon which to stack heavy boxes. If your joists are anything less than 4×8's, we wouldn't recommend storing much of anything heavy in that space.
What should you not put in the attic?
10 Items You Should Never Store In The AtticPaints, cleaning products, or other toxins. ... Anything that is highly flammable. ... Delicate holiday decorations. ... Art is never good to store in the attic. ... Leather products. ... Cardboard boxes. ... Musical instruments. ... Anything wool (or made from natural fibers)More items...•
What moves at night in a attic?
If you hear nighttime noises that sound like something is moving really fast, it could be rats or mice. In this case, you may hear them not only in the attic, but but also inside the walls. Although these rodents are quite small, they can make some noise.
Should I wear a mask in my attic?
Put on a Face Mask Before Climbing Up in Your Attic It's important for you to wear a face mask at all times in your attic to avoid breathing in anything that could potentially harm you. Once you've cleaned your attic, you can go into it without wearing a mask all the time.
Should I open attic?
Adequate attic ventilation protects your home's structure from the top down and increases your comfort without adding to your energy bills.
Is it safe to leave attic open?
It is generally not recommended to keep your attic door open unless your entire home is naturally ventilated and not air-conditioned. Even in those instances, it may be better to simply open the windows on either side of the attic and keep the door closed.
What qualifies an attic as living space?
Your attic must follow the same requirements as the rest of the rooms in your house. That being said, your attic must have at least 70 square feet where the ceiling is at least 5 feet high. The ceiling height must be at least 7 feet high in 50% of the usable area.
What makes an attic habitable?
Square footage – To be habitable, attic space should comply with the same requirements of all other rooms in a house. To pass code in most areas, a finished attic must have at least 70 square feet with a ceiling height of at least five feet.
What usually lives in attics?
The most common animals that live in an attic are raccoons, squirrels, bats, mice, and rats.
How do you survive a hot attic?
How to Cool a Hot Attic This SummerA Hot Attic Affects Your Whole Home.Improve Air Circulation in Your Attic.Seal Cracks and Leaks.Use Energy-Efficient Insulation.Install Energy-Efficient Fans.Radiant Barriers.Talk to a Professional.
There is a major pest infestation
Have you heard any scratching or scurrying in the ceiling above you? If so, there is a good chance your attic harbors pests. While this might seem like only a minor inconvenience, rodents pose serious risks to the pets and occupants in your home if they aren’t trapped and eradicated ASAP.
The attic has blooms of mold or mildew
If you live in an older home, odds are your insulation and attic ventilation are outdated. Pair that with any leaks or moisture issues, and you’ve provided the perfect environment for a mold and mildew bloom.
Your attic may have toxic fumes and vapors (off-gassing)
Speaking of using the attic as storage. There are some things that should never be stored in the attic. Period. This is because they post a fire or toxin risk to your home occupants and pets.
When Are You To Old To Do Pest Control?
Living in the retirement capital of the world I have the distinct honor to serve …
Can you walk in an attic?
Most attics aren’t made to walk in and insulation, duct work and low clearances just increase the difficulty. If this isn’t bad enough add to it the fact that an attic can reach temperatures of 120 degrees on a hot summer day. I have to go into attics all the time and believe me I don’t look forward to it.
Who is Jerry Schappert?
Jerry Schappert is a certified pest control operator and Associate Certified Entomologist with over two and a half decades of experience from birds to termites and everything in between. He started as a route technician and worked his way up to commercial/national accounts representative. Always learning in his craft he is familiar with rural pest services and big city control techniques. Jerry has owned and operated a successful pest control company since 1993 in Ocala,Florida. While his knowledge and practical application has benefitted his community Jerry wanted to impart his wisdom on a broader scale to help many more. Pestcemetery.com was born from that idea in 2007 and has been well received. It is the goal of this site to inform you with his keen insights and safely guide you through your pest control treatment needs.
Is there a danger in the attic?
Dangers in the attic. There is a hidden danger in almost every single attic in the world, this insidious enemy cannot be controlled with sprays, powders, baits or any of the most sophisticated pest control equipment ever designed. This infestation can affect the do it yourself homeowner and the professional pest control professional alike.
What are the Major Causes of Attic Mold?
Attics can easily be infested with mold for 2 primary reasons – poor ventilation and roof leaks.
What Are The Steps Of Professional Attic Mold Removal?
What happens when you call a professional? When you have a mold remediation company come to your home, you need to know just what to expect.
Why vent attic?
Vent your attic to prevent ice damage and expensive roof repairs. Unvented attics can become damaged and allow air to leak out if ice forms in your gutters. Attic vents help reduce the workload of your HVAC system, and that can save on monthly energy bills.
What is the most common type of attic?
Truss attics, scut tle attics, vented, unvented, and garage attics are among the most common attic types. Scuttle attics have pull-down stairs are only for storage, and truss attics are unfinished and have structural trusses. Vented attics are energy efficient but can cause roof leaks, and unvented attics work as a living space.
Why is it so expensive to build a truss attic?
It is expensive to build a truss attic because attic trusses more than double a traditional truss. Truss attics are common above garages, but they aren’t exclusive to them. You cannot use a truss attic for a living space, but they are great for storage.
Why do people use scuttle attics?
Homeowners generally use scuttle attics strictly for storage because they aren’t convenient to access and have limited space .
How much does it cost to build an attic above a garage?
Garage attics are a gem for homeowners looking to add extra storage to their homes. You can finish an attic above your garage for an average of $14,300, and it’s worth it for the value that it adds. Homeowners also use garage attics as a living space, however, that is only ideal if you aren’t storing vehicles there.
How much does it cost to install an attic fan?
Install attic fans to protect your roof and keep your home’s temperature regulated. It costs an average of $600 to install an attic fan, and they can improve your energy efficiency. Make sure to properly insulate your attic or else the attic fan will be nearly useless.
How much does it cost to finish an attic?
The average finished attic is 7’ high ceilings and 7’ width. It is worth the average $40,000 it costs to finish an attic, and they have an average 60% return on investment.
Why is my attic dusty?
A dusty attic may result in poor air quality throughout the rest of the house, especially when disturbed. Attics are usually remote and enclosed spaces with little to no ventilation. Sunlight and general degradation can help to create more dust at a rapid pace when compared to other rooms.
What causes mold to be musty?
An overproduction of mold brings about a musty smell and causes discoloration throughout walls, flooring, and windows. If too much mold growth has occurred professional help may be needed. High levels of various molds can present a serious risk to the occupants of a home.
What is the color of mold in a house?
House mold is always toxic and can form in an array of colors including black, grey, brown, white, green, and orange. An overproduction of mold brings about a musty smell and causes discoloration throughout walls, flooring, and windows.
What is dust in the attic?
Dust: The catch-all term “dust” technically refers to tiny particles of solid waste matter. Dust comes from various sources in the atmosphere like soil, particles lifted by the wind, and other forms of pollution. A dusty attic may result in poor air quality throughout the rest of the house, especially when disturbed.
Why is it important to take care of your home?
Taking care of your home is something that homeowners should make a constant priority for a number of reasons. It’s always better to attack an issue sooner rather than later as it may correct a dangerous problem before it gets too bad. In the long run, it can also benefit one financially and ultimately improve the value a property has as a whole.
Why is it important to know what toxins are in your walls?
Knowing what toxins exist within your walls will decrease your chances of inheriting an illness. And with the potential health issues running the gamut from something as minor as a headache to as severe as lung cancer, it’s important to practice safe home renovation techniques.
Is asbestos insulation dangerous?
Asbestos: While asbestos might not be actively harming a family or the people in their home if it’s kept intact and in good condition, it presents no risk . It’s quite possible that if your house predates the 1980s, there is asbestos insulation used throughout the home, especially in spaces like the attic and basement.
Unstable Footing
Attic entrances are notoriously narrow, and the ladders themselves are no exception. In fact, many have slight steps and go upward at a steep angle. This makes it much harder to maintain your footing on the ascent and increases your chances of slipping in the process. Falls from these heights can lead to a series of severe injuries.
Exposed Nails or Screws
Older attic entranceways can also have exposed nails or screws from their previous construction. These items stick out from the support beams and can scratch you unexpectedly as you walk up. Because of this, make sure you inspect your ladder before you start climbing. This way, you’ll know if there are any obstacles you’ll need to avoid.
Inadequate Clearance
Another common danger of attic stairs and pull-down ladders is a lack of clearance space between the opening and a person’s head as they climb. This increases the risk of you bumping into things during the ascent and makes you more susceptible to additional injuries along the way.
Unsafe Location
Even the location of your attic ladder can present an issue. Should it rest too close to other structures, it’s more difficult to start your climb—further increasing your chances of falling.
Major Medical Concerns
They aren’t looking for trouble, trying to cause a mess, or attempting to bring any harm to your household, but bats still pose a handful of health concerns to anyone living in close proximity. Even if you feel safe from direct contact, bites, or scratches, you aren’t safe from the medical threats caused by contamination.
Serious Structural Danger
Droppings left behind from bats are even bigger than a concern to your health. When guano and urine seep into the walls and floorboards of your home, you can experience serious damage from mold growth.
Potential Legal Liability
If your home hosts a bat infestation during certain times of the year, you could face legal trouble for trying to get rid of them. In fact, from April 15 to August 15 in Florida, it’s against the law to exclude, relocate, or kill bats that you find in your attic.
When Are You To Old To Do Pest Control?
Living in the retirement capital of the world I have the distinct honor to serve …
Can you walk in an attic?
Most attics aren’t made to walk in and insulation, duct work and low clearances just increase the difficulty. If this isn’t bad enough add to it the fact that an attic can reach temperatures of 120 degrees on a hot summer day. I have to go into attics all the time and believe me I don’t look forward to it.
Who is Jerry Schappert?
Jerry Schappert is a certified pest control operator and Associate Certified Entomologist with over two and a half decades of experience from birds to termites and everything in between. He started as a route technician and worked his way up to commercial/national accounts representative. Always learning in his craft he is familiar with rural pest services and big city control techniques. Jerry has owned and operated a successful pest control company since 1993 in Ocala,Florida. While his knowledge and practical application has benefitted his community Jerry wanted to impart his wisdom on a broader scale to help many more. Pestcemetery.com was born from that idea in 2007 and has been well received. It is the goal of this site to inform you with his keen insights and safely guide you through your pest control treatment needs.
Is there a danger in the attic?
Dangers in the attic. There is a hidden danger in almost every single attic in the world, this insidious enemy cannot be controlled with sprays, powders, baits or any of the most sophisticated pest control equipment ever designed. This infestation can affect the do it yourself homeowner and the professional pest control professional alike.
