Do you suspect the presence of mold in your house attic? Study some of the most common causes of mold in attic.
Since you rarely access your house attic, moisture-related problems such as mold growth often go unnoticed. It’s imperative to keep an eye on your attic to avoid mold issues. Failing to keep track of mold can exacerbate the damages, which can cost you hefty repair costs.
Even if you have no plans to stay at your existing home for long, mold in your attic can lower the resale value of your home, causing you to lose money on the sale.
Let’s go through some of the most common causes of mold in your attic:
Roof Leaks
One of the most common causes of mold in your attic is a leak in the roof. During rain or snowfall, water on the roof makes it way down to the attic through any potential openings.
When that happens, the accumulating moisture paves the way to mold growth and weakens the structure of your house. If not detected at its earliest, mold will keep on spreading inside your attic.
Inadequate Ventilation in Attic
Attics are designed to hold a passive ventilation system in which air from outside enters through vents at the bottom, warms up in the attic, and escapes from through the vents at the top. This ensures are a well-ventilated attic with a nice, breezy flow of air.
Most of us insulate the roof decking and seal all possible vents in our attics in an attempt to lower our energy bills. This traps the warm, moist air inside your attic, thereby destroying the whole ventilation system and creating an ideal environment for mold growth.
With insufficient ventilation, the humid air in the attic stagnates and condenses on the wood sheathing, resulting in wet wood that causes mold growth throughout the attic.
Bathroom and Kitchen Vents Discharging into the Attic
Bathrooms and kitchens produce plenty of warm, humid air that is supposed to move out through vents or exhaust fans. The kitchen and bathroom must be directed outside the home, either to the ground or via the roof.
If the humid air is allowed to rise into the attic, it will form a wet film on the walls and floors of the attic, making mold growth inevitable.
Dryer Vents Exhausting Into the Attic
Likewise, some homeowners install dryer vents in a manner that they discharge a lot of hot, moist air into the attic. This can rapidly cause mold and other moisture problems. On top of that, the accumulation of lint may also result in a fire hazard.
Now that you’re aware of the most common causes of mold in your attic, do your best to ensure proper ventilation in the space, avoid letting the dryer and other vents to discharge into the area, and be sure to get rid of any water that accumulates inside the attic after rainfall or storm. If you already suspect the presence of mold in the area, seek professional help.
For mold remediation services, reach out to the Service Team of Professionals.
