Home insulation helps keep your family warm in winter and cool in the summer. Unfortunately, any pests that get into your home also love burrowing and nesting in insulation. Pests in your insulation can include bugs, possums, mice, rats, squirrels, termites, and ants. Valley Insulation explains how to keep these pests out of your home insulation.
Why You Need to Keep Pests Out
Pests need to find shelter from the frigid cold of harsh winters in Cincinnati. Insulation in your attic, walls, crawl space, or basement represents the perfect place for them to stay warm. Once bugs and rodents discover a place to stay cozy, they may not want to leave. Pests can destroy the efficiency of home insulation, degrade your home’s structure, and even affect your quality of life.
What to Look For
Look around the inside and outside of your home. Mice, squirrels, and other rodents only need a ¼-inch hole to invade your house. Insects and termites love moist areas and wood to start burrowing into. Warm, moist places offer an ideal breeding ground for insects. Once they get into your house, pests will discover the warmth of home insulation and decide they want to stay.
Perform a thorough inspection, or hire a professional to do it. This is especially true for older homes. Look for:
- Cracks and holes around the foundation, eaves, and roof
- Gaps in walls, floors, and ceilings where pipes enter your home
- Moisture on the perimeter of your home, such as damp wood
- Piles of debris near your home, including leaves, brush, and branches
- Damaged wood or siding
- Cracks in masonry walls and floors
If you find any of these vulnerabilities, take care of them as soon as possible. It’s only a matter of time before something works its way into your house and your home insulation.
Seal Your Home
Patch up cracks in mortar, stone, or brick with the appropriate sealant. Consider sealant that is both waterproof and paintable. Replace damaged wood or siding. If you take the wood or siding off and you see more damage, you may need a professional contractor to help.
Use wire mesh with concrete to seal any gaps near pipes. Place the wire mesh around the gap before applying the concrete. Once the concrete dries, rodents and bugs can’t get in. All of these techniques can keep pests from entering your house and getting into home insulation.
Home Insulation in Cincinnati
Installing the correct type of home insulation can prevent pests from invading your house. Nu-Wool cellulose insulation resists fire, mold, and insects. We can remove old insulation and install new materials. Contact us today for all of your home insulation needs, or call our team at (513) 353-4100.
