How to Keep Your Attic’s Insulation Safe from Pests?
As September nears an end, the warm weather too is witnessing replacement by the winds of fall. Unfortunately, we are not the only ones heading indoors to escape the chill. Pests and critters, too, are looking for warm shelters in our homes.
In Oklahoma, for example, rodents, raccoons, squirrels, and bats are the most common sort of pests setting up shop in your attics. This article discusses the damage that these critters cause and the best pest insulation as solutions.
What Damage Do Pests Cause in Attics?
Burrowing and Tunneling
The soft, squishy insulation in your attic is one of the rodents’ favorite places to burrow. Rats and mice cause widespread damage when they burrow into the insulation. Sometimes, they may also have a hearty feast of the insulating material and leave behind gaping holes. Rodents leave behind fecal matter that degrades the breathability of the air in your house. They also act as carriers of a bunch of diseases that threaten the well-being of you and your family members.
While burrowing is expressly a rodent thing, tunneling is for ants and termites. They tunnel through the insulation in your attic to build nests. As the colonies grow, so do the nests and before you know it, the holes start riddling the insulation. This defeats the entire purpose of insulation. Additionally, you will also be facing a ridiculous hike in your energy bills.
Moisture Intrusion
The small (and sometimes large) holes and gaps that these pests leave behind leave your home prone to external moisture intrusion. This, in turn, increases the risk of mold and mildew damage. When you fail to notice mold and mildew in your attic, it will severely impact the quality of the air circulating through your home. The toxic air can also contribute to breathing difficulties and asthma attacks.
Debris Accumulation
Raccoons, bats, and squirrels also bring along junk with them to the attic. From food items to stash to leaves and twigs as nesting materials, when the debris keeps accumulating in your attic insulation, it ceases to function as effectively. Apart from promoting mold and fungal growth, the junk buildup also invites other pests to munch on your insulation.
3 Popular Pest Insulation for Attics
Fiberglass Batts
Fiberglass batts are a popular attic pest insulation. They are easily available and one can install them in a jiffy, now only if they did their job well too. These come in thick, squishy sheets that are rather appealing to rodents and other types of pests. Certain pests can also eat through fiberglass batts, rendering them pretty useless.
Loose Fill Fiberglass
Loose-fill fiberglass is an upgrade from fiberglass batts. This type of insulation comes loose and blows into the attic walls using a piece of special equipment. It often tends to fall in on itself, thus keeping pests from nesting in it. The only major downside is that loose-fill fiberglass can irritate the lungs in case of excessive exposure.
Pest Control Insulation
Pest control insulation is a special type of insulation consisting of boric-acid treated cellulose. The boric acid makes sure that the insulation stays intact for the longest time possible. One can avail of this kind of insulation only at a reputed pest control company like ours. Surprisingly, it doesn’t even cost much more than regular cellulose insulation, but the pest control properties are accurate enough.
With over 4 decades of experience dealing with different kinds of pest infestation in Oklahoma City, Mother Nature's Pests & Lawn knows the secret to efficient pest control. Visit our website to check out special offers on our services!
