The attic is one of those areas in the house that doesn’t get much attention unless there’s a problem. It’s even one of the dirtiest parts of a home since attics are rarely cleaned. It’d help if you clean your attic at least once every six months. Remember, this is where your home’s insulation is located and is also one of the parts of the house where mold and dust accumulate over time. Aside from that, this is where rodents and pests often like to reside.
If you’re unsure when your attic needs cleaning, the following signs should be enough to tell that it’s time:
There’s A Lot Of Dust Inside The House
If you find too much dust around your home even though you always clean your house, then you should know that there’s something wrong with it, especially upstairs.
Attics are ideal places for dust to accumulate. It’s not a surprise since not many homeowners bother going up the attic to clean it up or disperse dust. But once too much dust is in the attic, it may find its way into your HVAC system and spread out around your house.
Increased dust is also an indication of a serious pest infestation in your attic. Termites, for example, create what would look like dust but are actually droppings. So, if you notice dust that has an unusual color or texture, you should check out your attic and clean it up. Or, you can call a company that offers pest control and same-day rubbish removal services to take care of your problem.
Bad Smell
If you smell something unpleasant in your house from the attic, there’s certainly a problem. A rodent infestation usually causes bad smells coming from the attic. It could also be caused by a dead rodent already starting to decompose. Decomposing bodies of dead animals can leave a very foul odor. If you smell it, it’s a sign that you should check out your attic and clean up the space to eliminate the stench inside your house.
You also need to be wary of the musty smell around your home. This could result from mildew or mold growth, which also occurs in many attics. These things grow if there’s a presence of moisture that comes from a leaking roof.
One of the benefits of cleaning up your attic is that you get to decontaminate it and fix any issues you can find in the area.
Increased Energy Bills
Homeowners worldwide always have energy bills that change a little bit every month. But suppose you’re seeing a significant increase in your electricity bill for the last couple of months even though you didn’t buy new appliances lately. In that case, it could mean your HVAC system is running at full capacity, hence the increased utility bills.
When the HVAC system works hard, it consumes a lot of energy from the grid. One of the reasons this is happening is due to clogged air ducts or filters. When the attic has accumulated a lot of dust, it’ll eventually find its way into the air ducts, which can lead to clogs. This causes your HVAC system to work hard and consume more energy.
Addressing the clogs in your HVAC system can fix this issue. But apart from it, you should also clean up the attic using a vacuum cleaner to eliminate dust.
There Are Rodents On The Attic
The attic is one of the favorite nesting places for pests and rodents such as mice and rodents. Signs of rodent infestation in your attic include droppings, gnawing signs, unpleasant smells, and others.
Once you notice these signs, you should clean up your attic to eliminate rodents. If you can’t handle the bad smells or if you’re afraid of mice and rats, you should hire professional attic cleaning services to handle it for you. You should never let rodents breed and live in your attic as they may cause health issues to your family and damage your home’s structure.
Final Thoughts
If you notice any of the above signs, it’s time to give your attic a thorough clean-up. Cleaning up the attic is no easy task, but it’s necessary. A dirty attic can be detrimental to your health and may cause your energy bills to increase significantly. Don’t hesitate to hire a professional cleaning company if you can’t handle cleaning your attic on your own. These guys are well-equipped to restore attics to their original state. Consider the ideas mentioned here as you plan and prepare.
