Glossary of Attic and Crawl Space Cleaning Terms

Educate yourself on attic and crawl space cleaning industry terms and processes.

The following terms and definitions can help you better communicate with your local attic and crawl space cleaning company.

attic
The space immediately below the roof of a home. Attics aren’t meant to be used as living spaces—they’re typically used for storage and are often the location of insulation, wiring, piping, and roof access.
Also known as: attic space, house attic, storage attic

attic inspection services
Services that identify problems with moisture, rodent or pest activity, debris, rubbish, air flow and energy efficiency in an attic. Addressing these issues can lead to healthier indoor air quality.
Also known as: attic inspections, annual attic inspection services

attic decontamination
When toxic or potentially dangerous substances like mold, rodent waste and pest debris are present in attics, decontamination can prevent them from attracting more rodents or spreading throughout your home.
Also known as: attic cleaning, attic sterilization, attic sanitation, attic sanitization services

attic vacuum services
Attic vacuums are generally used to remove old or degrading attic insulation. These vacuums can remove loose fill attic insulation, pest and rodent waste, debris, and rubbish.
Also known as: attic vacuum, insulation removal, rodent waste vacuuming, attic rubbish vacuuming services

crawl space
A low or shallow, unfinished area found underneath the first floor of a home. Most are too small for an average adult to stand in, hence the term “crawl space.” These areas often allow access to plumbing and electrical systems and may be used for storage. Crawl spaces can become contaminated by rodents, pests, mold, debris and rubbish, so they should be regularly inspected and cleaned for safety and health reasons.
Also known as: crawl space, crawlway

crawl space decontamination
If toxic or harmful items like mold, rodent waste and pest debris are present in crawl spaces, decontamination can prevent them from attracting more rodents or spreading throughout your home.
Also known as: crawl space cleaning, crawl space sterilization, crawl space sanitation, sanitization services for crawl spaces

crawl space inspections
Services that identify problems with moisture, rodent or pest activity, debris, rubbish, air flow and energy efficiency in a crawlspace
Also known as: inspection of crawl space, annual crawl space inspection services

crawl space remediation
Includes the removal of toxic and harmful materials, pest waste, rubbish, and other debris. Crawl space remediation can lead to a healthier home environment.
Also known as: crawl space restoration, pest decontamination, rodent decontamination, mold decontamination in crawl space

crawl space water removal
Water and moisture problems in crawl spaces can lead to mold, dry rot, mildew, and structural issues if left untreated for too long. The most common water removal treatments include moisture and vapor barrier installation, dehumidifying, and venting.
Also known as: crawl space moisture removal, moisture removal from crawl space, water removal from crawl space

odor removal
Rodent waste, mold, and other contaminants can make crawl spaces and attics smell musty or worse. Those odors can invade your home via ventilation systems and air transfer, and the presence of rodent urine can even act as a welcome sign to other rodents. Odor removal services include waste removal and decontamination of insulation and surfaces.
Also known as: attic odor removal, attic odor abatement, crawl space odor removal, crawl space odor elimination, rodent odor removal, pest odor decontamination