Wet Insulation In The Attic

When a roof leak leads to saturated insulation that insulation almost always needs to be replaced.

Wet insulation in the attic.

Handy homeowners can install blown in insulation in the attic. 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. Blowing insulation into walls is best left to the pros because it involves drilling into stud spaces that may contain electrical. Saturated insulation typically loses at least 40 of its insulating r value.

If you can ensure good air sealing and insulation the attic will remain cool and dry as if it were outside. What to do about a wet attic. 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. 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.

Drying out a wet attic. Put on protective gear such as gloves safety goggles and a breathing mask to remove wet insulation and discard it in the trash. Coping with wet insulation. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.

Wet insulation is inefficient but more immediately it can be a hidden risk. Loss of insulating value. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. You can replace the insulation after the attic is dry.

Wet insulation no longer performs its primary function of inhibiting heat transfer. If you choose to install cellulose yourself you can buy the insulation in bags from your local home improvement store. Wet insulation is bad for your roof your building and its occupants. Pros and cons of cellulose attic insulation.

Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. Prolonged wetness will rot out the roof sheathing. You can also identify moisture problems in the attic by the formation of condensation on windows and glass surfaces. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices.

Insulation sits just below the roof s membrane. For example it is rare to see moisture problems or ice damming on the roof of a detached garage or unheated barn. 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.