Flood Clean Up Tips for Houses With Cellulose Insulation

Safety and Health Risks

• Before cleaning up and removing the cellulose insulation, take photos of the damage for your insurance adjuster. Homeowners insurance can help alleviate the cost of installing new installation.

  Always wear protective gloves and clothing to prevent harmful toxins from contacting with your skin. Cellulose insulation contains boron chemicals that can irritate allergy sensitive people. Homes built before 1970 may contain construction elements that contain lead or asbestos. In these cases, notify the local cleanup groups and agencies helping and request a licensed professional to remove these dangerous materials.

  Flood waters contain chemicals, pesticides, and toxic liquids like gas, kerosene, and paint thinner. Bag wet insulation as quickly as possible to prevent drying out. When dry the chemicals can leave behind a dangerous residue that can cause physical harm to inhabitants of the home.

Removing Cellulose Insulation

• Cellulose insulation makes an ideal choice for insulating homes in cold or moist climates because of its ability to retain light amounts of moisture while resisting mold growth. Unfortunately, flood waters are more than even the best quality insulation can absorb. Wet cellulose has a reduced R-value rating and becomes corrosive to electrical wires and plumbing fixtures. For this reason, it is better to remove and discard the ruined cellulose insulation instead of trying to salvage it. Although cellulose insulation contains boron chemicals as a fire and mold retardant, excessive exposure to water washes away the treatments, making the moist newspaper compound that cellulose insulation is made from an ideal home for mold and mildew spores. Remove all wet insulation immediately, this means removing drywall and paneling from the walls to access the damaged insulation. Ask the cleanup crews for where to take bagged insulation for disposal since some cities will have specific site drops for flood damaged and contaminated materials.

Installing New Insulation

• Before installing new insulation, the cavities between the walls, floors, and ceilings must be disinfected first. Mix a cup of bleach per gallon of water and scrub surfaces to remove bacteria and toxins from the flood waters. Allow the cavities to dry completely before installing new insulation. Depending on the amount of water your home was exposed to, it could take up to 6 weeks to dry thoroughly. If you are in a high or frequent flood zone, consider using Styrofoam rigid insulation to prevent costly repairs to insulation.