Mold Due To Improper Ventilation Of Attic

Yet many attics with ventilation far superior to the code requirements suffer from mold issues.

Mold due to improper ventilation of attic.

Nope venting an attic is actually pretty hard here s how ventilation is supposed to work. First air enters through the soffit vents. Mold that grows on the underside of roof sheathing due to ideal mold growth conditions being present. Look for signs of mold growth such as black white or brown spots appearing on walls or a musty odor.

One of the most common causes of attic mold is a bathroom fan or dryer vent that runs into the attic. For example if a house has poor attic ventilation but the ceiling is well air sealed and the interior of the home has excellent ventilation mold growth will not likely occur. If you re layering insulation atop other insulation don t use the kind that has kraft face finish i e paper or foil backing. All this moisture will rise up into the attic if there are pathways for airflow.

And many homes with terrible attic ventilation are completely mold free. Improper roof ventilation and attic insulation may seem like small issues but they can actually lead to very expensive repairs and unnecessarily high utility bills. If one of these factors is operating poorly an attic might avoid mold growth by succeeding well in the other factor. Poor ventilation can lead to mold growth.

The presence of mold in your attic is often the result of poor ventilation insufficient insulation moisture from a roof leak or improper venting from your bathrooms or kitchen. The opposite is true but too a lesser extent. Mold can damage items in attic storage and cause respiratory problems for residents. When an attic is stuffy that indicates you have a ventilation problem which often results in mold problems.

Even with proper ventilation your air should not be vented directly into an attic. Mold on the underside of roof sheathing is also very common. This moisture feeds mold growth. An air conditioner in a home with improper attic ventilation must work overtime to keep the inside air cool particularly in the upper levels.

Since warm air rises if it comes into contact with the cold attic sheathing then condensation occurs. Seal those pathways and you will minimize the chances of attic mold growth no matter what kind of attic ventilation is present. A humid environment is the ideal place for mold or mildew to grow. Stains around nails are not mold growth but are due to the chemical reaction between wet iron and tannins in the wood.

Unfortunately improper installation or choosing the wrong kind of insulation causes moisture from the lower levels of the home to rise and get trapped in the attic. Attic mold can happen in warm or cold weather. Poor ventilation can lead to mold growth. If you combine moisture with restricted air circulation you will create a humid and moist environment the ideal environment for mold to grow and thrive.