Keep Critters Out By Animal-Proofing Your Attic

Dealing with an unexpected attic visitor can be incredibly frustrating. From midnight scurrying to high-pitched chattering, these uninvited guests can disrupt your peace and quiet. But it's not just about the noise—animals love the dark, secure environment your attic provides, making it a prime spot for nesting. The last thing you want is for one animal to invite their friends or, worse, start a family up there. Here are four updated strategies to keep your attic free from furry intruders:

1. Trim Back Trees

Prevent easy access by trimming trees close to your home. Squirrels and chipmunks can use overhanging branches to jump onto your roof. These critters are notorious chewers; once inside, they can cause serious damage to wiring and piping. Avoid the hassle of expensive repairs by maintaining a clear perimeter around your roof.

2. Regular Roof Inspections

Small holes and loose shingles are open invitations for animals. Ensure your roof is in top condition, paying extra attention to the areas around chimney flashing. Animals need water, and a leaky roof can provide a constant supply, making it an attractive nesting spot for rats and mice.

3. Install a Chimney Cap

Chimneys are like open doors to curious animals. Installing a simple mesh chimney cap can prevent squirrels, raccoons, and other critters from exploring your fireplace. It’s an easy, effective way to keep your home safe while maintaining proper ventilation.

4. Secure Your Vents

Vents are necessary for your home’s ventilation but can also be entry points for animals. Install vent covers to allow air to flow while keeping pests out. This simple addition can prevent mold and mildew while safeguarding your attic.

Identifying and Handling Intruders

If you suspect you already have an attic intruder, identifying the type of animal can help you take the right steps. Rats are persistent gnawers with distinct squeaks. Mice may sound louder than expected due to their rapid movements. Raccoons can be identified by their screams or hisses, while squirrels are quieter but destructive to insulation. Possums are often noted for their strong odor.

Whatever the animal, it's crucial not to let it settle in. Professional exterminators can offer solutions such as trapping, releasing, and one-way exclusion doors to ensure the animals leave without harming your home.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Insulation is a Year Round Investment

As summer heat peaks, many homeowners are grateful for the cool comfort provided by their air conditioning. However, running the A/C non-stop can lead to high energy bills, especially if your home isn’t properly insulated.

While most people associate insulation with winter, it’s just as beneficial during the summer. Remember from school science class how heat rises? This means that your top floor and attic are naturally warmer than the lower floors. Without insulation, your attic can become much hotter than the outdoor temperature. If you touch your ceiling and it feels warm, imagine how hot it is above it.

Insufficient insulation forces your air conditioning units to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. Whether you have central air or window units, they are straining to cool your home, which spikes your energy costs.

Improving your home’s insulation can make a significant difference. The attic is a prime area for insulation upgrades due to its large space and extreme temperature variations. Although it’s often overlooked because we don’t spend much time there, adding insulation in the attic can be a cost-effective home improvement. Options include blowing loose fiberglass under the floor or laying batts between the floor joists. The best choice depends on your home’s size, attic clearance, and usage. A well-insulated attic not only reduces energy costs but also increases your home’s resale value.

In addition to the attic, sealing gaps around windows and doors helps keep cool air inside. Check your door sweeps and replace them if necessary, and use caulk or sealing tape on windows. This practice will benefit you now and in the winter when you’re trying to retain warm air.

For those with window A/C units, insulating around them is crucial. Use flexible foam to create a good seal at the top and bottom of the unit. Ensure the side curtains are tight-fitting and securely anchored. Without proper insulation, your window A/C unit isn’t operating at full efficiency since much of the cool air escapes outside. Taking these extra steps ensures your A/C works effectively.

Another area to consider is your home’s walls. If your house is older, it may not have adequate wall insulation. Adding insulation to your walls can prevent heat transfer, keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. There are several methods for insulating walls, such as injecting foam insulation or using blown-in cellulose. These options can be a bit more invasive but are worth the investment for the long-term comfort and efficiency of your home.

Additionally, consider insulating your floors, especially if you have a basement or crawl space. Insulating these areas can reduce heat loss and prevent moisture buildup, which can lead to mold and mildew issues. Foam board or rigid foam insulation works well for this purpose and can be installed relatively easily.

Don’t forget about your ductwork. If your home has central air conditioning, ensuring your ducts are well-insulated can prevent energy loss as the cool air travels from the unit to various parts of your home. Leaky or uninsulated ducts can lose up to 30% of the cooling energy, making your system work harder and increasing your energy bills. Sealing and insulating your ducts can improve efficiency and enhance overall comfort.

Lastly, consider the benefits of radiant barriers. These are reflective materials installed in attics to reduce heat gain during the summer. Radiant barriers work by reflecting radiant heat away from your home, helping to keep indoor temperatures down. This is particularly beneficial in hot climates where the sun’s intensity can significantly impact indoor comfort.

Investing in insulation is a smart move for homeowners looking to improve comfort and reduce energy bills year-round. By addressing key areas like the attic, windows, doors, walls, floors, and ductwork, you can create a more energy-efficient home that stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The initial investment in insulation will pay off through lower energy costs and increased home value.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

What to Know About Ice Dams

This winter has been fairly mild but the season is still in full swing and it won’t be long until we get another storm to remind us that we live in New England. Before that happens, I always like to talk about the dangers of ice dams and the reason why so many homes in our area get damaged by them. 

An ice dam is a solid mass that forms when heavy snow blankets the roof, creating an extra layer of unwanted insulation. As warm air rises from your house and up through your attic, it causes the snow to melt and the water to slide down into the gutters. This would typically be just fine, but because so many homes in our area aren’t properly insulated, the melting ice will often make contact with the cold eaves of the roof and freeze again instead of draining off through the gutters. This forms a large ice mass at the gutter line, which will grow if not taken care of.

Solid ice is heavy and can easily pull gutters loose. The dam can even get strong enough to lift up your roof shingles, creating gaps that let the water through and into the attic. This is when people start to see leaks in their ceilings and walls. 

The only way to prevent ice dams from forming is to have your home properly insulated and ventilated. More than 75% of homes in our area are under-insulated which causes the heat from your home to shoot right through the roof. Because insulation and ventilation weren’t regulated when most of the homes were built in this area, a lot of us have houses that are better suited for Florida winters than our cold Connecticut climate. 

Having appropriate insulation and ventilation will not only keep your home free from ice dams but will also keep you much more comfortable in both the winter and the summer. You’ll feel the difference immediately, and you’ll see the benefit in your energy bills too. A house that can breathe and can properly regulate its own temperature will also be less like to accumulate mold and mildew which is not only damaging to your house but also to your health. It’s a simple solution to keep your family, your home, and your wallet healthy. 

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro”. All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.