Regular maintenance on attics and crawl spaces helps keep your home or office in good condition and can save you money in the long run. Below is a list of maintenance tips. Please feel free to share this with your clients.
Attics
1. Replace old or damaged insulation: Damaged insulation is commonly caused by water infiltration or rodent infestation, both of which can negatively impact one’s health. Also, proper insulation helps regulate the temperature in your home or office.
2. Seal holes (in vents and walls): We’ve found everything from bird nests and unsightly droppings to multiple dead birds at various stages of decomposition. By ensuring your home or office has no points of entry, your structure should remain safe from animal activity. We recommend an annual check, especially after heavy winds and storms.
3. Keep your attic orderly: maintaining organization in your attic provides room in case a professional needs to access the area to make a repair.
Crawl Spaces
1. Remove debris: Building materials occasionally get left in the crawl space. This can attract pests but may also block passage, resulting in a contractor being unable to access the crawl space.
2. Seal holes (in vents and walls): Similar to attics, pest infestation can be a big issue in your crawl space. Pests and animals destroy wood, insulation, and wiring, as well as being potentially dangerous. We’ve seen everything in crawl spaces from cats to skunks — even cougars.
3. Ensure any insulation is correct: The foundation vents should not be even with the adjacent grade so that water does not enter the crawl space. Any insulation present should be properly supported to the insulated subfloor.
Note: Although we are not conducting a pest inspection, we will note missing or damaged screens, as well as evidence of animal activity, if seen.