2 Ways Old Ceiling Insulation Can Endanger Your Household's Health
Ceiling insulation is vital for Australian households. In addition to safeguarding your home from severe thermal changes that occur during the summer and winter months, functional ceiling insulation will also enhance the efficiency of your household's HVAC system. However, ceiling insulation does not last forever.
Over time, these materials will succumb to degradation from water damage, pest infestations and so on. The mistake to avoid is postponing the removal of the old ceiling insulation, as this will pose several hazards to your home.
Foremost, the degraded ceiling insulation will no longer maintain the desired temperatures in your house, increasing your dependence on your heating and cooling systems. Secondly, damaged ceiling insulation can pose health hazards to yourself and your loved ones. Read on to discover two ways old ceiling insulation can endanger your household's health.
1. Old ceiling insulation can disperse airborne particles into your home
Fibreglass insulation is a top option for homeowners looking for budget-friendly insulation supplies. Moreover, the mould resistance of fibreglass insulation makes it a favourite among Australian homeowners since they do not have to worry about their ceiling insulation acquiring moisture damage from high humidity levels.
Nevertheless, fibreglass insulation does not have an infinite lifespan. Over time, this ceiling insulation can deteriorate, which causes the filaments to break away. If you do not seek insulation removal services immediately, then the glass filaments steadily drift into your HVAC system's ductwork. Resultantly, the filaments circulate in your home, contaminating the air quality.
A couple of problems arise once this happens. For starters, glass filaments are not organic, so they will not break down. Instead, the filaments will come in contact with your skin and irritate it. Secondly, when the glass filaments are inhaled, they can damage the soft tissue in your lungs, leading to respiratory problems. Hire insulation removal services to avoid paying recurring medical costs.
2. Old ceiling insulation can disperse mould spores into your home
Another popular ceiling insulation option for Australian homeowners is cellulose insulation. This popularity can be attributed to the fact that cellulose insulation is manufactured from recycled newspapers. Hence, homeowners gravitate toward it under the presumption it is an ecological solution. But cellulose insulation can be extremely hazardous since it is vulnerable to moisture damage.
Any leaks in your roof coupled with extreme humidity can transform this type of ceiling insulation into a breeding ground for mould. The longer the mould growth goes unchecked, the higher the likelihood of the spores contaminating the air in your home. Consequently, you and your loved ones become susceptible to a wide array of health issues.
Most commonly, you will notice an uptick in respiratory problems in your household in the form of wheezing and pressure in the chest. Furthermore, you will also find you and your loved ones have developed unexplained allergic reactions that will manifest as itchy eyes or runny noses.
The longer you put off insulation removal, the higher the likelihood the mould will spread to other parts of your home. Therefore, you will not only be dealing with a health hazard in your home but also have to spare money for mould remediation.
You must hire insulation removal services to have the compromised cellulose insulation removed and replaced with better alternatives, for example, earth wool insulation, polyester batts or fibreglass batts.
Your ceiling is not the only part of your home insulated, so you may want to consider having the wall and floor insulation in your home inspected for damage too. For the removal of old insulation and installation of new materials, contact Insulation Removals to handle all your insulation needs.
