Attic mold can take a homeowner by surprise, especially since the attic is a space in a home that is most likely to be ignored. After all, out of sight, out of mind. Homeowners rarely spend time in their attic, aside from a few times a year to store decorations or other household items. When a homeowner ignores their attic space, mold can grow for months before being discovered.
Attics are one of the most vulnerable areas of a home for mold growth. Attics tend to have the ideal conditions for mold to occur – heat, humidity, and moisture. Mold also needs a food source, and it thrives on wood and insulation, which are plentiful in an attic space.
What causes mold growth in an attic and what are the signs of mold? Let’s take a look at mold issues and what steps you can take to prevent mold in your attic.
What Causes Mold in an Attic
Water and moisture are the main causes of mold growth not only in an attic but also in all areas of a home. Mold needs warm, damp spaces to thrive, which is why molds develop in attic spaces. Some common causes of mold in an attic are:
- Poor Ventilation: Inadequate ventilation is the primary cause of mold growth in an attic. When there is not enough air circulation or ventilation, moisture tends to stick around and not evaporate. This creates a damp, dark environment—perfect for mold growth.
- Blocked/Insufficient Insulation: Attic insulation helps prevent excessive amounts of warm air from entering a cold attic. When the insulation doesn’t work as intended, the hot air will create condensation when mixed with the cold air. That condensation leads to a buildup of moisture and leads to mold.
- Failing or Improperly Installed Bathroom Fans, Kitchen Fans, and Dryer Vents: Any exhaust in a home – kitchen, bathroom, or laundry exhausts – are designed to pump moisture out of a house. When the exhausts and vent fans are not installed properly or are failing, they can push that moisture directly into an attic. Even worse? Mold spores can get into vent fans and circulate through the entire house.
- Roof Leaks: Roof leaks are another common cause of mold in an attic. Even a small roof leak can add enough moisture to an attic space to create ideal conditions for mold.
Mold can be problematic for a homeowner, especially if the mold outbreak is severe. Mold growth can cause health issues for home occupants including respiratory issues, allergic reactions, eye irritation, headaches, dizziness, and even nausea. If you’ve discovered a mold issue in your attic, contact us for mold remediation services. Our team can help contain and remedy your mold issue with the proper tools and equipment.
Signs of Mold in an Attic
How do you know if you have a mold issue in your attic? There are several obvious – and not so obvious – signs of mold growth to keep an eye out for in your home.
Common signs of mold in an attic include:
- Dark Stains on Attic Plywood: Mold loves to feed on plywood and other attic materials. If your attic plywood has a dark stain or black discoloration, that is likely mold. In cases where the mold has spread throughout the attic, contact an emergency restoration services company.
- Hot and Stuffy Attic: Does your attic feel hot and stuffy? Does the air feel ‘thick’ to you? A hot, stuffy attic means there is poor ventilation which is a common cause of mold. Although your attic’s temperature may not be regulated by your HVAC system, it should still feel breezy if it’s properly ventilated.
- Water-Stained Ceiling Tiles: Water-stained ceiling tiles in the living space below your attic may indicate you have not only a roof or plumbing problem, but also a mold issue. Moisture build-up can spur mold growth.
- Health Issues: Do you or your family members have sudden unexplained respiratory health issues? Headaches? Asthma-like symptoms? These are all indications of a reaction to mold.
If you notice signs of mold growth, contact a mold remediation and mitigation specialist. While it may be tempting to remove mold yourself, it can be dangerous and if not done properly, can actually make things worse. A trained professional has the tools and safety equipment to get the mold issue under control.
How to Prevent Mold In Your Attic
Like other areas of a home, it’s important to take measures to prevent mold growth. With some basic home maintenance, you can help prevent toxic mold from causing structural damage to your attic as well as prevent the mold from causing you or other home occupants health issues.
Here are some tips to prevent mold growth in your attic:
- Inspect Roof Regularly: Roof leaks are the number one way for water to enter your attic. If you are able and skilled at home improvement projects, you can inspect your roof yourself to look for leaks. Look for any discoloration on wood or insulation inside your attic and check the roof itself for any blemishes or abnormalities. A professional roof inspector can also help you identify and remedy roof leaks.
- Ensure Ventilation Is Working Properly: When your ventilation doesn’t work properly, moisture builds up. This is especially a concern during the winter months. Constant air movement in your attic will help keep mold from developing.
- Check Insulation for Issues: As previously mentioned, insulation prevents warmer air from mixing with the cold air of an attic. When the two combine, condensation forms and causes mold. One word of caution – over-insulating an attic can also cause mold. Talk to an insulation professional to ensure your insulation is working properly to prevent mold growth.
Even if you take the proper preventative measure to stop mold growth in your attic, you may find yourself with a mold issue. Reach out to us for help – our approach to mold remediation is safe, effective, and efficient.
Professional Mold Remediation and Remove Services
Sometimes mold growth can be overwhelming, and hard to remove on your own. If you have a mold problem that is causing health issues or is causing you stress, Reynolds Restoration Services can help. Our trained and professional team has been helping home and business owners for more than 15 years remove mold from their homes or offices. With offices in Harrisburg and Philadelphia, PA, and Baltimore, MD, our teams can quickly respond and help restore your building to its pre-mold condition.
If you’ve discovered a mold issue in your attic, reach out to us today to start the mold remediation process. We are on-call 24/7 to help you with your mold issue. Call 1-888-277-8280 for prompt service.