Professional Attic Cleaning

An unclean attic can attract rodents or cause mold to grow in your home. Discover how professional attic cleaners can sanitize your attic.

An attic is one of the most overlooked places in a house. Most households only use an attic for extra storage space. As a result, attics receive significantly less cleaning than the rest of a house. Having an unclean attic can lead to several issues, which can quickly spread to the rest of your home. If these issues are not treated, you may end up spending thousands of dollars in repair. There is also the risk of getting sick.

There is a lot that goes into keeping your attic clean. While there are some steps you can take to keep your attic clean, it is difficult to provide a thorough cleaning without the right equipment. Because of this, homeowners are encouraged to periodically hire professional attic cleaners. Attic cleaners not only have specialized equipment to keep your attic clean, but their experience lets them identify potential issues and clean up messes the average homeowner would otherwise miss. Listed below are some of the top services provided by professional attic cleaners.

Signs of a Dirty Attic

Whether or not you need a professional attic cleaner or can handle the cleaning on your own depends on the state of your attic. There are several key warning signs indicating you need to hire a professional attic cleaner as soon as possible. A common issue with a dirty attic is it attracts rodents. Over time, these rodents venture out from your attic and start to infest the rest of your home. From your attic, rodents can get into your ceilings or wall to expand their nests. Your attic may also end up a home to larger rodents, including raccoons, birds and squirrels. Not only do these animals leave waste in your attic, but they can do damage to your electrical wiring or water lines.

An obvious sign your attic is dirty is if there is an unusual or foul odor. Foul odors is much more than an inconvenience. It may be caused by mold or mildew growing in your attic. This can quickly spread to other areas of your home and cause health issues to anyone in your household.

Another indication your attic is dirty is temperature fluctuations. This can be throughout the whole house or in select areas. A good way to check for these fluctuations is to check your heating or cooling bill to see if there are any sudden spikes. When your attic is dirty, your insulation can get damaged, which causes temperature variations in your house, creating hot or cold zones in different areas. This is especially common if you live in a rainy area, as a leafy roof can cause significant damage to your insulation.

Eliminating Mold

A common task for professional attic cleaners is mold removal. Safely removing mold requires proper safety gear, which the average household does not have on hand. Professional cleaners have masks, gloves, suits and ventilation which not only protects them from mold, but also from the strong cleaning chemicals used to remove the mold. Professionals also have additional equipment to seal off the area. This keeps the mold spores from spreading throughout the rest of your home, ensuring the cleaners can remove the afflicted areas with one cleaning.

Some of the products professional cleaners use includes HEPA air scrubbers and vacuums, air exchanges, specialized dehumidifiers and sheeting to contain the mold. They also have special filters which are designed to capture even the smallest mold spores.

In addition to cleaning, professionals can spot other areas where mold may be growing in your attic, as well as identify what areas were structurally damaged by mold or mildew. If necessary, cleaners can assist with replacing damaged areas. They also use sealers and encapsulants to strengthen other areas and also help with lingering odor control caused by the mold.

Rodent Removal

Removing rodents from your attic is a difficult process. Not only do you need to remove the rodents, but you must clean up and address whatever damage the rodents caused. Professional attic cleaners have the experience and equipment to properly disinfect your attic. Cleaning up after rodents without the proper safety equipment is dangerous, as either direct or indirect contact with animal waste can cause serious health issues. In an enclosed space, such as an attic, it is difficult to avoid rodent waste, especially if you are unsure where the rodents nested.

Professional cleaners can also eliminate less obvious messes left behind by rodents. If a rodent nests in an area for long enough, they may leave behind pheromones which attract other wildlife. Finally, professional cleaners can locate areas where smaller rodents are getting in, sealing up these spaces and preventing future infestations in your attic.

Average Attic Cleaning Costs

The costs of hiring a professional attic cleaner vary based on the size and condition of your attic. If you have no serious issues and only want a traditional cleaning and examination, the average cost is between $150 and $200. If you want additional services, such as junk removal or help with organization, the price increases to $200 to $300, largely depending on the size and state of your attic. More serious issues, such as mold removal, range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the severity of the infection. Rodent removal is around $250, but you may pay more if the infestation requires a greater cleaning.

Hiring a Professional Attic Cleaner

Most professional attic cleaners work in local businesses, so there are few nationwide chains you can rely on. Many attic cleaners. Many businesses advertise at local hardware stores. Another easy way to discover professional cleaners is to ask your friends or family for recommendations. You can also search for local attic cleaning services online, using websites like Thumbtack, Angie’s List or Homeadvisor.

If you are dealing with a mold problem, it is easier to find professional cleaning services. Servpro is one of the largest mold removal services, available in all 50 states. The company deals with both removal and restoration as a result of mold damage. ServiceMaster Restore is another nationwide mold removal service, available 24/7 for emergency cleanings. PuroClean is available in the majority of states and creates personalized cleaning and restoration plans.