Do you think you have mold in your attic?
I hope you are enjoying the summer as much as we are. It is the perfect season for renewal, fun, and rejuvenation in the sun. However, during these times of energetic bliss, there may be something creeping in your homes, specifically the attic. Mold. Mold is not desirable and like us, summer is the perfect season for it to grow.
If you’re worried that there may be mold in your attic, reach out to your local professionals, like Service Team of Professionals (STOP) who are trained and certified to remove mold. If you are unsure if mold is present in your attic but don’t want professionals to get involved just yet, here are a few signs that can indicate if you have mold in your attic.
Ventilation. First, let’s start with the structure of the attic. Do you know if your attic has ventilation? If not, there is a chance that your attic has or is susceptible to mold. Ventilation in your attic helps prevent mold growth by drying out your attic, filtering out the moisture, and disrupting the growth of the mold. With little to no airflow in your attic, the moisture becomes trapped, turning your attic into the perfect environment for mold to grow.
Humidity/Moisture. Mold thrives in damp areas. If you have little to no airflow in your attic and live in areas prone to humidity or even high humidity (in our case, Massachusetts), your attic may be the perfect home for mold.
Musty Smell. When areas are damp, especially for a long amount of time, it starts releasing a musty, mildew smell. This smell is another indicator that you may have mold. When you start smelling this musty smell, especially during the humid, summer months, you should reach out to your local professionals to check to see if you have mold. Not only is mold not desirable, it can also cause health problems.
Can You See It? Finally, one of the ways to determine if you have mold in your attic is to look for it. Oftentimes, the dark areas on the wood indicate mold growth. If you have blocked soffit vents, for example, the dark mold patterns may start to grow up from the blocked vents.
Mold Lab Diagnosis
The only way to know for sure if you have mold is if you or your local professionals check for it and have the area tested. A sample of mold and the air is taken and sent to the lab for testing. Lab results should tell you the type of mold and the levels in the air. The results are compared to a “control sample” taken outside to determine if the level of mold inside is greater than the “normal” mold levels outside.
You will want to call mold removal professionals, like STOP Metrowest in Framingham MA, to ensure the mold is removed without contaminating other areas of your home. STOP has the most up to date training and equipment to safely and quickly stop the damage from occurring and restoring the area to a safe environment.
STOP Metrowest is an IICRC Certified Firm – safe, quality, and compassionate service is our priority! We provide rapid mold assessment and remediation in Framingham MA or other Metrowest MA communities like Sudbury MA, Holliston MA, and Westborough MA. Call STOP MetroWest at 508-753-3780.
For more information, visit our webpage at STOP Metrowest.
