The attic might be located at the top of your home, but it’s far from the top of most homeowner’s to-do lists. Instead, attics and crawl spaces are often neglected because they aren’t usually habitable and are viewed as less critical parts of the home.
But ignoring these areas would be a mistake. Failing to pay attention to your attic and crawl spaces can significantly impact your health and safety, not to mention the structural integrity of the home itself.
But what should you look out for? Here are some of the most common issues professionals find during an attic inspection and the measures you should take to address them.
Insufficient Insulation
If you’re suffering from high energy bills or a drafty home, an attic inspection will likely reveal that your home’s insulation is lacking. Attic insulation plays a major role in maintaining the temperature in your home and ensuring that your HVAC system doesn’t have to go into overdrive just to keep things comfortable.
If your inspection reveals this issue, don’t worry — it’s common and a relatively simple fix. You can start by determining how and where you want to add insulation for improved energy efficiency.
Consider upgrading existing insulation to something more robust, like choosing spray foam rather than fiberglass batting. An attic professional can help with personalized recommendations based on your specific attic since certain types of insulation make more sense in some situations than others.
Water Damage
Water or moisture damage is easily one of the most problematic yet common issues found during an attic inspection. You might already recognize that you’re struggling with water damage if you see spots or stains on your ceiling.
Strong, musty odors are also a good indicator that there are moisture issues. They usually signify that mold and mildew are thriving somewhere in your attic.
Using specialty tools, a professional can check for signs of water damage that you can’t see with the naked eye. Still, if you’re taking a look yourself, you should aim to find the source of the problem as quickly as possible.
If you live in a climate with lots of precipitation or humidity, see whether installing a vapor barrier could help prevent future water damage. Otherwise, the goal should be to find and address the leak or other water source to keep the existing damage from worsening.
Pest Infestations
An unfortunate reality of being a homeowner is that many pesky critters want to get into your home. An attic is an excellent place for all kinds of pests, especially rodents. It shelters them and often provides plenty of spots to hide since many people solely use their attics for storage.
These unwanted guests do more than simply overstay their welcome, too. They also frequently chew through wood or insulation, leave behind droppings that can make the space unsanitary, and even cause issues with your wiring.
Addressing a pest problem requires a multi-faceted approach, but the first goal should be to determine how bad the issue actually is. Before you call for a professional, it’s wise to take a look for yourself and see whether you can find any signs of pests, like droppings or nests.
Electrical Problems
The first three issues are well-known enough that some homeowners will consider them on their own. Beyond these, though, many more surprising — and still extremely common — problems can arise as well.
Electrical problems are a good example. The wiring in your attic is often on the older side and more likely to be damaged, especially if you’ve had any of the aforementioned issues before. If you have outdated wiring or have noticed problems with your attic’s wiring, an attic inspection is an ideal way to get a better grasp of the situation.
This issue, more than any of the others, must be handled by a licensed contractor. DIY-ing electrical work is a recipe for disaster. Thus, it’s important that anything past your inspection be done by an expert electrician.
Structural Issues
Another concern that can show up after others is structural damage. However, structural degradation also simply happens over time — you don’t necessarily need to have struggled with water damage or pests in the past to experience this problem.
Either way, structural issues in your attic can compromise your home’s stability and safety. That’s why it’s so crucial to figure out a way to deal with the problem once you’ve identified it.
An attic inspection will likely bring any structural damage to light. Still, you can do some investigation yourself by looking for warped wood, cracks, or sagging beams in your attic.
These are also issues that you should have handled by a professional contractor. The last thing you want is for your DIY methods to do more harm than good. It’s therefore, essential to have someone with the appropriate certifications and knowledge take care of it for you.
Poor Ventilation
If you’re struggling with controlling the moisture in your attic, you might also have issues with poor ventilation. Ventilation is important for having a healthy attic environment.
Without it, you’ll end up dealing with excessive heat buildup in the summer and potential ice dams in colder weather. Neither is good for your home, but both can be avoided with adequate ventilation.
During your attic inspection, a professional will determine whether the cause of excess heat or moisture is poor ventilation. Installing solutions like attic fans or ridge vents can dramatically improve airflow in your attic.
Stale or musty air can permeate your living space as well. To help eliminate the chances of your attic’s air affecting your living spaces, you may want to invest in an air purifier for your home or attic.
Your Place for Professional Attic Inspections and Fixes
Attic Projects isn’t just the place to go for your inspection — we guarantee that we also have the solutions you need. If you’re struggling with any of the common problems on our list, get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment. We’re ready to help you get your attic’s health back on track.
