Why Attic Cleaning and Sanitation is Vital for a Healthy Home in Florida
Attic cleaning and sanitation are an integral part of maintaining a happy and healthy home in Florida. Most homeowners don't pay attention to the state of their attics until they notice something is wrong, but without regular inspections and evaluations, your attic can become a breeding ground for pests, fungi, and bacteria that can pose a host of health and home-related issues.
Understanding the significance of attic cleaning, recognizing the signs that you may require attic sanitation services, and appreciating the benefits of attic decontamination are all vital for a healthy home in Florida.
What Is Attic Sanitation Cleaning?
If you are unfamiliar with attic cleanup and sanitation services, it may be challenging to comprehend their usefulness. These services are not just limited to removing old junk and clutter from the attic. Although removing junk and debris that has built up over time is one aspect of the service, other critical components can significantly affect the health and hygiene of your home.
A professional attic cleaning and sanitation service can include activities such as:
- Dust and debris removal.
- Identification and remediation of mold.
- Identifying a leaky or damaged roof.
- Addressing a rodent problem and proofing the attic space.
- Identifying, removing, and decontaminating rodent infestation.
- Installing new insulation.
- Removing old or contaminated insulation.
- Assessing the health and adequacy of your insulation.
The extent of work needed for professional attic cleaning and sanitation largely depends on the current state of the attic. For instance, if your attic has a rodent infestation, the removal of animal waste, decontamination, rodent-proofing, and insulation replacement will be necessary. A longer period of neglect will also result in more work and cleanup services to restore the attic as compared to regular annual cleaning.
Why is Attic Cleaning Important for Your Health and Home?
It’s easy to underestimate the impact of your home on your health. The simple fact that you spend a lot of time at home makes it essential to ensure that your home is a healthy environment. According to a 2009 study by the United States Office of the Surgeon General, the state of your home has a direct impact on your health. The study showed a clear link between the condition of a home and the health of the occupants. Poor indoor air quality can make asthma and other respiratory conditions worse.
The Surgeon General's report also notes that, in addition to well-known contaminants such as radon gas, carbon monoxide and secondhand smoke, the two most common irritants found in homes are allergens from rodents and dust mites. The report discovered that mouse allergens were detectable in 82% of homes in the United States, while 84% had a bedroom with detectable levels of dust mite allergens, and 63% had detectable levels of cockroach allergens.
These eye-opening statistics help to prove the point that the dust in your home and contact with a rodent infestation can affect the well-being of your household. When rodents invade your attic, they leave behind feces and urine in their nests. The accumulation of these wastes can lead to severe health issues. Below are some of the common diseases that can be present in rodent feces and urine:
- Salmonellosis
- Rat-Bite Fever
- Plague
- Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever
- Leptospirosis
- Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
Even after successfully dealing with a rodent infestation in your attic, it's important to address the contamination that may have been left behind in the nesting materials and surrounding areas. This step is critical in eliminating the risks associated with the diseases rodents carry, underscoring the importance of sanitation as a fundamental aspect of any attic cleanup process.
Additionally, the accumulation of contaminants in your attic can pose serious health risks to you and your loved ones. Failure to clean your attic regularly can result in the buildup of dust, which may contain harmful chemicals from household cleaners, environmental pollutants, and even heavy metals that can negatively impact the health of those living in the home. Dust that settles on surfaces or becomes airborne can irritate the respiratory system, worsen asthma symptoms, and contribute to the development of other health conditions.
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