If you are like most homeowners, you probably haven’t put much thought or spent much time in the attic though it’s an extension of your home. The attic serves an important function to your home’s ability to keep cool or warm, and basic attic maintenance can improve both comfort and safety.
Here’s a guideline and tips to consider for your annual attic inspection.
Attic Ventilation
A great way to improve your homes energy efficiency, you’ll want to start with the attic. 
What to look for:
- Matted insulation
- Wet rafters and ceiling joints
- Mold
- Addressing a critter problem
- Potential exposure to exposed wires
Check Vents for Debris
Vents can get clogged by leaves, branches and dirt. For this reason, routine vent inspection and cleaning is a necessary task.
Prevent mold
Mold can grow in an attic if there is the presence of moisture, which may occur if you have a leak in your roof. Check for roof leaks which often result in trapped moisture in your attic. To keep the moisture out of your attic, inspect your roof for missing or damaged shingles. Consider hiring a professional to replace the damaged shingles.
Mold damage can trigger harsh allergens. Preventing mold growth and sealing out insects and critters helps reduce irritants in your attic.
Insulation
Attic insulation is key. A well-insulated attic is also the best way to prolong the life of roof. Insulation in your attic functions as a crucial barrier to the transfer of heat.
On hot days insulation keeps the living area of your home cooler, while on cold days the insulation keeps your living area warmer. The insulation limits the amount of temperature fluctuation that occurs in your home.
Storage
Most homeowners store items in their attic. However, attics aren’t all designed to be used for this reason. Attics often are tight spaces that are difficult to navigate. With low ceilings and precarious footpaths, moving around in an attic can be risky in itself.
What to consider before you store seasonal items in your attic.
- Can your attic floor handle large and or heavy items? If you have an unfinished attic, storing items is likely not immediate option. You’ll need to set-up proper and safe flooring.
- Many attics reach high temperatures during the summer and consideration as to what is stored should be made.
Care and Maintenance
- Inspect annually.
- Inspect on a rainy day, this will allow you to identify leaks that you may have missed on a nice day.
- Look for signs of water, including stains, dampness, and mold.
- If you find moisture, it needs to be taken care of right away. If not, you will have a mold problem before you realize it.
- Check vents routinely to ensure they are secure and haven’t come loose and clean from debris.
- Remove debris or stored items in attic and crawl space you no longer need.
- Insulation checkup and replacement if necessary.
- Identify any leaks in the roof and mold growth.
- Removal of accumulated dust and dirt circulated by the vents.
- Hire a professional to take care of pests. Pests can become a real problem and should be addressed right away.
Benefits
Attic inspection should be a regular part of home maintenance and will yield many benefits. Regular attic cleaning can reduce the number of allergens and toxins in the air circulating in your home. An annual inspection and general maintenance can boost the energy efficiency of your home.
We hope you’ve found attic maintenance guide helpful. Consider contacting a professional to make repairs if you discover damage that’s beyond your DIY maintenance skills.
At Robuck Homes, our relationship with homeowners doesn’t end at closing. We are eager to provide helpful information for general home maintenance, design ideas or activities to keep your home safe and enjoyable.
