Wet Insulation In The Attic

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

Wet insulation in the attic.

Saturated insulation typically loses at least 40 of its insulating r value. There are many signs that an attic is wet. Small black and or greenish colored dots on insulation boxes or other materials is a sign of an exceedingly high moisture content in the air. 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.

You can also identify moisture problems in the attic by the formation of condensation on windows and glass surfaces. 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. Loss of insulating value. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.

For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. Wet insulation no longer performs its primary function of inhibiting heat transfer. Prolonged wetness will rot out the roof sheathing. Drying out a wet attic.

Coping with wet insulation. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. Put on protective gear such as gloves safety goggles and a breathing mask to remove wet insulation and discard it in the trash. Insulation sits just below the roof s membrane.

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. If you can ensure good air sealing and insulation the attic will remain cool and dry as if it were outside. For example it is rare to see moisture problems or ice damming on the roof of a detached garage or unheated barn. Wet insulation is bad for your roof your building and its occupants.

Cellulose recycled ground up paper with boric acid added for insect control and fire resistance offers a better attic insulation option than batts. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. What to do about a wet attic. Blowing insulation into walls is best left to the pros because it involves drilling into stud spaces that may contain electrical.

When a roof leak leads to saturated insulation that insulation almost always needs to be replaced. You can replace the insulation after the attic is dry. Pros and cons of cellulose attic insulation.