I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all had our fair share of winter weather this year. The blistering Polar Vortex send arctic air sweeping across the country, leaving many cities with record-low temperatures. Thankfully, spring is less than a month away, which means warmer temperatures on the horizon. Homeowners should use this time to perform a thorough inspection of their attic and make the necessary preparations for the upcoming warm temperatures.
Is Your Attic Properly Insulated?
If not, you’ll end up wasting a ton of money on cooling your home. The further we get into spring, the higher the temperatures will rise, which means homeowners will resort to using their central AC to create a comfortable living environment. Central AC is great for cooling homes, but only if it’s properly insulated.
Go through your attic to perform a visual inspection of its insulation. If you see any areas where the insulation is wet, broken, falling down or otherwise damaged, you’ll want to replace it with new insulation. New insulation is inexpensive and can be purchased from most home improvement stores, so don’t assume that you need to hire a professional contractor to perform the work.
Are There Rodents or Pests Living In Your Attic?
While you’re checking the insulation in your attic, take a moment to look for signs of a rodent infestation. Allowing mice or rats to roam free in your attic is a serious problem that leaves your family vulnerable to transmittable disease. You can read through our blog here at AtticGuys.com for more information on how to deal with rodent infestations in the attic.
Here are some of the signs of a rodent infestation:
- Droppings (usually about the size of a rice grain).
- Shredded cardboard, wood or other material.
- Noises coming from the attic during the night (rats and mice are nocturnal, so they typically come out at night to search for food).
- Trails where rodents leave behind oil, urine or other visible marks.
Prepare Your Air Conditioner
If your air conditioner handler (not the condenser) is located in the attic, you may also want to check and make sure it’s ready for the upcoming spring season. This includes changing the air filter (if applicable), checking the electrical connections, vent ducts, etc.
Note: you may want to hire a professional HVAC technician to perform a tuneup on your system. They’ll handle all of these tasks and more to ensure you are ready for the ‘hot’ spring and summer days.
