Drying Out Attic Insulation

Box out light fixtures.

Drying out attic insulation.

The joists are usually spaced every 16 inches. Locate the source of the water. Moisture in the attic is relatively easy for homeowners to identify as it s usually. Wet insulation increases the burden on the building itself and over time can lead to warping and other structural.

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. Choose from two types. Identifying moisture in the attic. Trapped moisture encourages corrosion of roofing fasteners and.

Wet insulation means trapped moisture that will slowly degrade the entire roofing system from the decking to the. If it s a leaky roof or pipe place buckets underneath the leak to collect the water. Spray foam attic insulation. Coping with wet insulation.

Clothes dryers venting to your attic rather than outside firewood in your attic this type of wood encourages moisture in the air insufficient ventilation of warm moist air non existent or inadequate barrier between the attic and your. Clean up any standing water with large absorbent towels or a wet dry vacuum. How to dry out an attic 1. Drying out a wet attic.

Inadequate ventilation attics must be vented to allow moist warm air to escape. They sport insulation values of approximately r 6 5 and r 3 6 per inch respectively. If necessary use a dehumidifier. Drying a large area of soaked insulation as well as detecting mold is a labor intensive process.

It creates a breeding ground for mold and mildew and ruins the air trapping pockets that block heat flow. How to dry out a wet attic top causes of attic moisture. A dehumidifier may be used to reduce moisture in the air. Look for water stains on the roof sheathing or damp or moldy spots on attic joists and existing insulation as a clue to where leaks might be.

Take a good flashlight and a tape measure. When walking in the attic in older houses step only on the wooden joists that cover the floor. Spray foam offers the best attic insulation performance available. Closed cell and open cell aka 2 pound and pound respectively.

If it is in a closet move the clothes out of the closet so loose insulation won t stick to them. To dry out a moist attic be sure to properly ventilate and insulate the space. Because fiberglass batts are relatively low cost instead of attempting to salvage wet possibly contaminated material the better option may be removal and replacement with new insulation. Though causes can vary the most common causes are as follows.

Left untreated attic moisture contributes to mold and bacteria growth in the home.