Attack plan *A* required removing the squirrels from the attic. Awhile back I started hearing something alive on the roof and one day I realized they were not on the roof but a few inches above my head in the attic.
If anyone has heard the story on NPR about the squirrel, the cop and the guy and his wife in bathrobes, then I know what you're thinking right now.
I didn't actually hear the radio story but my lovely wife retold her version and it convinced me that I should never open the attic door. The consequences might involve more than fire and spilled wine.
I purchased an emitter from the hardware store that allegedly produces a high pitch sound which sends squirrels and other vermin running. It seemed to work for awhile depending where I placed it, so I bought another one. Then it seemed like it wasn't working at all. Somehow the sound changed to a siren call to help their buddies locate our home.
It was time to call a professional. One of my carpenters had a similar problem at his apartment which his landlord called the aptly named "A Wildlife Professional" to evict the squatters. Since I know landlords will do a lot of research to find the best deal in town I thought I would give this company a try. Tim Rickards came to my home the next day and got to work. He installed a one way gate that would allow the rascals to exit and not come back. Tim installed spray foam in the areas that they were getting in and covered unobtrusive metal on the outside.
Tim installing one way gate on the outside of the main entrance. Thanks Tim! They haven't been back.Next it was time to remove the insulation. Squirrel poop does not enhance the Feng Shui, or indoor air quality. In addition, the loose-fill cellulose insulation didn't do much to reduce air transfer which made the home drafty and inefficient.
The old insulation was only 3.5 inches deep of shredded newspaper which equals a maximum R value of 11.9 in the best of circumstances. On a typical windy day, the air pressure difference combined with all the holes in the attic decreases the R value dramatically.
Here is the amazing thing. In the summer when it is 90 degrees outside, it was probably at least 120 degrees in the attic which is separated by 3.5 inches of loose fill insulation from the family. The rectangle on the wall at the end is one of the two gable end vents that let the wind whip up the dust in the attic and let cold or hot air into the space.
We chose to call upon Rapid Vac to Remove all the attic insulation. ENVI Construction had worked with their team before and were glad to see the same crew show up to our home. I was always impressed in how conscientious and professional the guys are and took the extra time to eliminate any dust in the living areas.
Now is a good time to get the dog out of the house because the noise of the vacuum is going to stress him out.
The crew almost wasn't able to fit into the attic hatch once the hoses were installed.
In a few hours, all the dirty, inefficient insulation will be long gone.
In part II we'll discuss what type of replacement insulation was chosen and why.
