Dealing with Mold in Your Attic

Attics are one of the most common areas for mold growth. They often get hot and humid (since warm air rises) and this is an ideal environment for mold. They also tend to be filled with materials that mold can use as a food source, such as wood, cardboard, and more.

Plus, attics are often neglected areas where you may not go very often. This means you might not notice potential problems or you may not spot mold until it becomes a bigger issue.

If you have problems with mold in attic areas, it’s important to not only get the mold removed, but to understand what conditions made it possible for the mold to grow in the first place. By eliminating these conditions, you can create a safer environment that is less likely to have future mold problems.

Causes of Mold in the Attic

As mentioned, attics are common locations for mold growth. Not only are they typically hot and humid, but problems with your house, vents, roof, or other issues can encourage mold.

Mold can be dangerous. It can cause health issues from coughing, sneezing, and congestion to bigger problems such as allergic reactions, asthma flare-ups, respiratory issues, and more. This makes it important to deal with mold problems as soon as you can.

Here are some of the most common attic mold causes.

Insufficient Ventilation

Insufficient or blocked venting is one of the major causes of mold in attics. If your venting system isn’t functioning properly (if soffits are blocked with insulation, for example) or if there are not enough vents installed in your attic, this can cause a build up of moisture that will encourage mold growth.

Improperly Installed Vents

If kitchen or bathroom exhaust vents terminate in your attic instead of outside your home, this can direct moisture right into your attic, instead of outside, which is exactly what you don’t want.

Make sure that all vents in your home are installed properly and that they go where they’re supposed to go.

Roof Issues

Mold needs moisture to grow. If your roof has a leak or another issue that is allowing water into your home, even just a small amount, you could end up with mold in your attic. It’s important to keep an eye on your roof and to repair any problems before they become larger issues.

This is one of the biggest reasons that people need to call in attic mold removal professionals. Homes that have roof problems are much more likely to have damp attics, and that creates ideal conditions for mold to grow.

Inadequate Insulation

The insulation in your attic is designed to ensure proper moisture levels and temperatures in your attic. If you don’t have the right amount of insulation, this doesn’t happen properly and mold can grow.

In addition, it’s crucial that your attic floor is insulated. This will minimize air transfer between your living space and the attic. That will help keep your attic dry and the right temperature to prevent mold growth.

How to Remove Mold in the Attic

Though mold is very common in attics, that doesn’t mean it’s something you can ignore. Not only can mold cause potential health problems, but it cause materials in your attic, such as the roof’s plywood sheathing, to deteriorate. This isn’t a situation that you want.

When it comes to mold remediation, it’s best to trust large jobs to the professionals. The team at Mold Masters can assess the situation in your home, determine the best course of action to deal with and remove the mold, and help you understand what you can do to avoid mold in the future.

We have years of experience in dealing with mold problems and professionally cleaning and removing mold to improve the safety and comfort of homes. For more information, contact us online or call one of our Florida locations: North at 904-397-4030, Central at 813-606-6668, or South at 239-961-9995.

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