The Attic Insulation (Sometimes) Scam

Have you ever had a pest control company show up to do a free pest inspection and bee line for the attic? Has your termite company ever pushed to try and look in your attic during an annual inspection?

Are they claiming that even though you haven't seen a mouse in months or years, you have a massive infestation in your attic? While mentioning a litter-box above your head and a laundry list of diseases?

While they could be right, and you could indeed have an infestation, Did something seem off? Are their images questionable? From a different attic? Or even accurate? While they push, and push sometimes with multiple people there trying to get you to sign before they leave? Does it just seem like too much all at once?

The answer most times is this, It is not legit, and you’ve been hit by a scummy sales tactic.

In this industry attic infestations are a legitimate concern, however they are far less prevalent then many companies and inspectors make it seem. The issue a lot of times is a combination of three factors;

A lack of training to inspectors. Them not knowing active rodent signs and smells vs old.

Corporations pushing for more profit. Need that extra buck for the shareholders.

Individuals wanting easy sales to get their commission. Almost all big box pest companies pay their inspectors on a commission basis the more they sell the more they make.

Now if you have had wildlife living in your attics, Raccoons, Bats, and even Rats – then yes unfortunately you will probably have to replace the insulation after the animals have been removed and the entry ways sealed up.

For the Mice claim. My first question is what proof did they provide? Was it just random holes in the attic insulation, or a few rodent pathways in the insulation? If they did not show you active rodent urine trails using a blacklight, or even fresh droppings, then there is a very good chance it is old activity. No attic is fully sealed up against rodents without extensive work being done when a house is first constructed.

Here is a fun fact – Most houses have a builders gap under the shingles in the eaves, behind the gutter where the fascia board meets the roof. Mice are able to scale the gutter and most siding and the fiberglass insulation will not bother them because of their fur. Insects also love your attic because it works better for hibernation then most natural crannies and gaps under bark as it is warmer, safer, and more secure in the insulation then in nature. Mice eat bugs. Mice also only need 4-5 ml of water a day on average, and unless your gutter is perfect and does not accumulate even a thimbleful of water they can get this from your gutter. Without you ever seeing them.

Another fun fact – Mice do not hibernate.

This means they need somewhere warm to live in the winter when its cold outside. Insulation that traps heat is perfect and in an attic they don’t have to worry about most natural predators. Over a 5, 10, 15 year span a few mice a year in an attic can leave signs of activity without you ever seeing them in your house. And once it warms up they go back out into nature looking for mates, and more food.

A few other things;

Replacing insulation without sealing attic spaces will not stop re-infestations.

Most homes in East TN do in fact need more insulation according to the Department of Energy. (Local codes around R-30) DOE Recommends R-38 as a minimum up to R-49, R-60 Would be best for energy savings however it is not required.

Rodent infestations do in fact have a smell the larger the infestation the stronger the smell.

Pesticide Insulation will not burn the rodents.

I have noticed several companies using these tactics on the elderly and then hitting them with the line – If you don’t have much time do you really want to make this (who ever inherits the house’s) problem in the future to try and cinch a predatory sale. Always get a second opinion. Don’t pull the trigger right away. Know your right as a consumer - you have a 3 day right to cancel on any purchase at your home of over $25 (provided the work has not been performed). You can always cancel, get a second opinion and then make a decision, most companies want your money. As the consumer you have the power in negotiations.

Always, Always, Always call a local company that is not associated or owned by a large corporation, do some digging many medium sized companies have been bought by Rentokil, Rollins, Anticimex, Aptive, and Massey while maintaining their old name pretending to be local, and beware people claiming to be local even though they work for a nationwide chain.