Removing Old Attic Insulation Before Updating

Depending on the type of existing attic insulation you have in your home, you may be able to install a more efficient reflective insulation over the existing insulation. Always check your manufacturer's instructions for best practices and to discover if leaving the old insulation is a good option. Some homeowners like to play it safe, or simply start with a clean slate, when they upgrade their insulation material to one that has proven to be more efficient in helping to Insulation services maintain the climate in the home. For these folks, removing the old insulation often becomes a DIY project.

If you are dealing with old attic insulation made from fiberglass, then you need to wear protective clothing such as:

Long sleeved shirt

Gloves

Long pants

Proper breathing equipment or dust mask

Safety goggles

Hat

It's essential to keep your safety in mind. To avoid irritation to your skin, hair, and eyes, it's crucial to keep the tiny insulation particles away from your skin. Avoid rubbing your eyes at all times. Also, be sure to get the best type of breathing protection you can afford to keep those glass particles out of your lungs.

About 40 percent of a home's 'conditioned air' escapes through the attic. Thus, more energy is required to maintain the temperature. Attic insulation offers a great way to make your home energy efficient. The heating and cooling costs are reduced, and the waste of energy is minimized. Also, it regulates and maintains the temperature. For installation, you should hire a reliable green energy contractor.

If you are removing loose-fill attic insulation, you will also need a commercial grade wet/dry shop vac, an extension cord long enough to get into the attic and plenty of garbage bags. Don't waste your money by purchasing a vacuum if you do not have one. To get the most power, rent one from most any home improvement center.

Next, put that vacuum to use! You will need to empty the container often so be ready to fill up several bags of loose-fill attic insulation. Once you have completed this part, check with your local disposal company to find out where to throw this away.

After this is completed, your attic should be ready to install the new reflective attic insulation that uses the most recent advances in energy efficient climate control. As opposed to the precautions and special clothing needed to remove the outdated insulation, no special clothing or breathing apparatus will be needed.