Wet Insulation In The Attic

Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation.

Wet insulation in the attic.

When a leak allows water to seep in through. Saturated insulation typically loses at least 40 of its insulating r value. 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. What to do about a wet attic.

Wet insulation is inefficient but more immediately it can be a hidden risk. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. Insulation sits just below the roof s membrane. 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.

If you can ensure good air sealing and insulation the attic will remain cool and dry as if it were outside. Pros and cons of cellulose attic insulation. Wet insulation is bad for your roof your building and its occupants. You can also identify moisture problems in the attic by the formation of condensation on windows and glass surfaces.

When a roof leak leads to saturated insulation that insulation almost always needs to be replaced. Drying out a wet attic. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices.

Loss of insulating value. Wet insulation no longer performs its primary function of inhibiting heat transfer. 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 you choose to install cellulose yourself you can buy the insulation in bags from your local home improvement store. For example it is rare to see moisture problems or ice damming on the roof of a detached garage or unheated barn. Prolonged wetness will rot out the roof sheathing. You can replace the insulation after the attic is dry.

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. Blowing insulation into walls is best left to the pros because it involves drilling into stud spaces that may contain electrical. Cellulose recycled ground up paper with boric acid added for insect control and fire resistance offers a better attic insulation option than batts.