Insulation Removal – Why Remove and Replace Old Insulation?

By Matthew Grady

With the costs associated with heating oil these days it might come as a surprise that anyone would want insulation REMOVED from his/her home. In fact, there are 3 excellent, but rarely considered, reasons for insulation removal and replacement.

1. Over-Insulation

Having too much insulation in an attic is sometimes worse than not having enough. Adding heavy layers of insulation in an attic can drastically restrict the airflow and ventilation of your home. This can result in moisture issues on the top floor of your house and, in severe cases, even lead to mold problems. Left unchecked, either or both of these can cause health problems for your family especially if a family member suffers from allergies.

2. Damaged/Contaminated Insulation

Critters that find their way in your attic, a leaky roof and other dangers can severely damage and even contaminate your insulation. An attic full of squirrel/bat droppings and urine-soaked insulation are yet other potential causes of serious health hazards for you and your family.

In fact, the Owens Corning blog reports, "…when the water [or other liquid] evaporates, deposits of foreign materials that remain may decrease the R-value, and may also give mold and or mildew nourishment and a place to propagate. This growth, and/or odor (Yuck!), may then also be transferred to other building materials."

In addition, insulation that has been torn to shreds by animals over the years loses its functionality. Since tattered insulation cannot retain heat properly, it is unable to provide the benefits it once did and requires replacement.

3. Upgrade Your Insulation

The insulation of today is far superior to the insulation that was sold 15 to 20 years ago. New materials with improved thermal properties are now available to homeowners. In many cases you will realize a dramatic reduction in heating costs simply from upgrading the type of insulation in your attic. This especially holds true for older homes.

Insulation Removal Process

Removing old insulation from an attic can be a time-consuming and challenging project. If there are animal droppings mixed with the insulation you can expose yourself to several different diseases by disturbing the insulation and then inhaling the particles that become airborne. Proper safety equipment is a must for anyone working with old, contaminated insulation.

Dragging dirty insulation from your attic through the living space of your home is NOT a safe method of insulation removal. Using this method will result in a house full of airborne fiberglass particles and all the other contaminants that were in your attic. There are now professional companies that specialize in removing insulation in a safe and effective manner.

Conclusion

Do-it-yourselfers can save money by installing new insulation themselves after they've hired pros to safely remove the old insulation (so as not to contaminate themselves and the entire house). Once the insulation removal and replacement processes are complete, you can look forward to lower heating/cooling costs, greater air quality, reduction in carbon dioxide emissions (thanks to the use of less energy) and more. The immediate benefits for your family and the long-term benefits for our environment make insulation removal and replacement a smart move for everybody.

Matthew Grady is a licensed general contractor & owner of Bat Guys Wildlife Service. Bat Guys is fully licensed to perform insulation removal services and also rid your home of mice, bats, raccoons & more. For more about insulation removal