Did you sense a musty smell in your attic? The space is probably housing mold.
Mold growth is a common problem in attics. It not only proves damaging for the structure of your home but may also impact your health. But what causes mold to develop in the attic space? There are many causes of mold growth.
If you are experiencing mold growth in your attic for any of the following reasons, contact a mold remediation service immediately:
Roof Leaks
If you live in an area prone to regular rain and snowfall, you probably don’t need an explanation for this. Rain and snowfall often result in roof leaks, allowing water to seep into the attic space. In this case, you might see a small, localized area of attic mold where the leak occurred.
Some areas or spots that remain highly vulnerable to roof leaks and water intrusion include roof valleys, vents, chimneys, plumbing stacks, and attic windows.
Besides, if you spot staining or dark discoloration of wooden surfaces such as joists, rafters, sheathing, or attic side of fascia boards, mold might be present.
Improper Ventilation
Improper or blocked ventilation is another common cause of attic mold. An attic should feature a passive ventilation system, whereby the external air should enter through the soffit or eave vents at the bottom, warm up in the attic, and escape through the ridge vents or can at the top. A well-ventilated attic like this creates a nice, breezy airflow, eliminating the conditions for mold growth.
However, when the soffit or eave vents get blocked, perhaps due to insulation, the entire passive insulation system gets affected. As a result, the humid, warm air in the attic stagnates and condenses along wooden surfaces in the winter. The resultant wet wood leads to mold growth in the attic.
Malfunctioned Dryer Vents or Bathroom Fans
If you’ve transformed your attic into a living space, you may have installed dryer exhaust vents or exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens. These are meant to pump moisture out of your home. However, they can develop problems that may cause them to do the opposite. Thus, keep an eye that they don’t start driving external moisture inside the attic.
Moreover, plumbing stacks in the attic can cause various issues. If they cause condensation, attic mold will become inevitable. Plus, they may also start emitting harmful gases inside the attic. Hence, you should keep inspecting them from time to time.
Seek Professional Mold Restoration Services
Are you experiencing mold growth due to the reasons mentioned above? If you are, seek professional home restoration services to get your attic inspected for mold. Since toxic mold can be dangerous, don’t attempt toremove it on your own.
