Wet Insulation: The #1 Way To Recognize Wet Insulation

10/5/2021 (Permalink)

Contact the professionals at SERVPRO when your home or business has been damaged by water!

There are early indications of wet insulation that every homeowner must know.

The water restoration professionals at SERVPRO of North Fulton deal with hundreds of water damage calls a year. The severity of each call varies depending on the extent of water damage, location, and the category of water damage present.

There will be wet insulation that needs to be dried out or removed in almost every water damage situation. In the past, we have received some water damage calls where a homeowner did not realize that there was water damage to their home until they started to notice soggy drywall or water spots.

In the following blog post, you will learn what wet insulation is and how to catch the early signs of wet insulation using one of your five primary sense organs.

What is wet insulation?

Every home is insulated, commonly by a fiberglass insulation material. The insulation in a home is used to protect a home from outdoor conditions and stop heat and air conditioning from exiting a home.

Wet insulation is when the insulation becomes wet from either a plumbing issue or rainwater. When the insulation is moist, it will act as a sponge and hold the wetness until dried out by a professional water restoration company.

The number one sign of wet insulation

The number one indicator of wet insulation is going to be the smell of the damaged insulation. When insulation gets wet, it will give off a musty odor that is very intense. In the past, customers have compared the must odor of wet insulation to cat urine.

Another early sign that a home has wet insulation will be visible water damage on the ceilings or walls.

Why does wet insulation need to be mitigated quickly?

Wet insulation can be a major problem in your home. When wet insulation is not adequately dealt with, it will lead to more structural issues down the line.

The professionals at SERVPRO have seen wet insulation cause severe mold damage throughout the home or because mold grows quickly inside wet insulation. Therefore, it is essential to contact a professional water restoration company at the first sign of wet insulation. The right company will be able to quickly locate the cause of the wet insulation and will have adequate drying equipment to ensure all water is extracted.

How to prevent wet insulation

The number one way to prevent water damage is to do regular property maintenance. For example, a property owner will want to ensure that gutters are clean and draining properly so rainwater cannot get in contact with the insulation inside a home. 

Suppose a water damage issue has occurred on your property. In that case, it's essential to call an experienced restoration technician as soon as possible before more damage occurs or causes further discomforts such as mold growth or odors/pest infestations getting out of control.

Final thoughts

We hope you enjoyed learning about wet insulation and why it is essential to act quickly before further structural damages to your home occur. You must remember the early indicators of wet insulation. Your main sense organs are in place for a reason, and you can use these organs to catch early water damages.

If you have wet insulation or other water damage, contact us today for help! SERVPRO of North Fulton is a leading restoration company that services the greater Atlanta region. We are certified as an IICRC certified firm and have the experience to tackle any size water damage disaster. Please feel free to contact us at any day at any hour because we are available 24/7, 365 days a year.