Keeping the attic uncluttered is typically a low-priority task for most homeowners. In fact, you very well might have inherited a mess from the former owners.
In any case, if your attic has become a mess over the years, you shouldn’t leave it as is, of course, because there are many benefits to a clean attic, but before you crack down on tidying efforts, you should also consider the more unique benefits of professional attic cleaning.
Eliminating Potential Nesting Areas for Pests
One of the most important reasons why you should have a clean attic in Orange County, California, is to reduce your risk of pest infiltration. The region is home to a wide range of rodents and birds who would love to take advantage of a messy attic.
These intruders require a sheltered environment where they can stay safe from predators, the elements, and other threats, and if they can find a way into your attic, it presents them with the perfect spot. Any old clothing, cardboard boxes, or other items stored in your attic can more than provide them with nesting materials.
Clutter also makes it less likely that you’ll spot these pests. They can hide away out of sight for years without being noticed, but in all that time, they’re contributing nothing but added waste and biological hazards to your home. With that said, clearing out clutter makes your attic less hospitable for any unwanted guests.
Blocking Potential Pest Entry Points
A professional attic cleaning can also help reveal potential entry points for such pests. If your attic is currently cluttered, it’s fair to say that you’d never be able to spot the tiny gaps and holes that are letting rodents and birds inside.
By hiring professionals, you can also have a thorough inspection completed alongside your attic cleaning. With the clutter gone and the careful attention of trained technicians, any potential entry points can be identified while also providing options for pest-proofing your attic now that it’s clean.
Identifying Roof and Structural Issues
Your roof is among the group of parts of your home most likely to develop serious damage over the years. It’s also an area where damage can develop unseen, so you might not even realize just how serious your roof problems have become.
Thankfully, cleaning out your attic can help make spotting roof and structural issues much easier. During the clean-up, professionals will likely be able to identify signs of water damage and rot that have formed due to roof leaks and other issues.
You don’t want to find yourself with the sudden need for a roof replacement, so working to get and maintain a clean attic makes it easier to spot issues when there is still time for straightforward repairs.
Addressing Mold Infestation
Mold is one of the worst things that you can find in your attic, but it’s also one of the most likely to find if your attic is a serious mess. A variety of issues, such as poor ventilation, inadequate insulation, and roof leaks, can lead to moisture gathering in your attic, and over time, that moisture allows mold to grow and spread throughout.
You can even find mold spreading throughout the rest of your home, possibly requiring significant mold remediation, but proactively cleaning out your attic first will help identify any current mold issues so that action can be taken and future outbreaks can be prevented.
Removing clutter often means removing materials that are more susceptible to mold, like cardboard, paper, and fabrics. It can also foster proper ventilation, preventing the accumulation of excess humidity in your attic.
Ensuring Proper Ventilation
Attics aren’t meant to be fully isolated: They rely on proper ventilation to address various moisture and temperature issues. You may have a roof vent, a powered fan, or other forms of ventilation, but there should be at least some source of fresh air passing through the space.
Excess clutter blocks airflow, restricting ventilation and allowing heat and moisture to accumulate. As roof ventilation is often installed only to meet bare minimum requirements, any obstruction can become an issue, given enough time.
Leaving It to the Professionals
It’s clear that attic cleaning can provide a variety of benefits, but there’s still the question of whether to go with the professionals or handle it yourself. Along with being much easier, leaving it to the professionals also provides a variety of other benefits.
First and foremost is safety: An attic that has been left unattended for years is likely to have some combination of pests, mold, and other biological risk factors running rampant, all of which can make you sick. As such, if you try to handle your attic cleaning on your own, you risk both direct contact with and the continued spread of contaminants throughout your home.
Professionals have the safety equipment and training necessary to remove potentially hazardous materials without risk to you, your family, or yourself. Everyone can stay safe when you leave the task to those who know it best.
Assessing Your Insulation
Another benefit of attic cleaning is that you’ll be able to take a closer look at your attic’s insulation situation. In many homes, inadequate or damaged insulation can lead to significant energy waste.
During your attic cleaning, the professionals can determine whether you have the right thickness and type of insulation in place for your attic. They can also identify signs of rodent activity or other damage that may be impeding the effectiveness of that insulation.
Inspecting Other Issues
There are other important areas that, though they should be inspected, cannot be if you have a cluttered attic. Many homes have some elements of their HVAC system or other systems located in their attics, so having professionals take a closer look at ventilation, electrical work, and other details can save you a lot of trouble in the long run.
Professional Attic Cleaning Services in Orange County, California
If you’ve recently moved into a new property and found some unpleasant surprises left by the previous owners, or if you have been putting off a much-needed cleaning for years, the team at Attic Projects is here for you with professional attic cleaning services in Orange County. Reach out today to schedule your service.
