Mold growth can happen easily in residential homes. While we tend to think of mold growth as a bathroom problem, it is also common in attics. Here are the top causes of mold growth in the attic and why hiring a professional is your best option for attic mold removal.
Attic Mold Caused by Roof Leaks
Mold easily grows in bathrooms because of the combination of humidity and water. Your attic poses the same hospitable combination. Because heat rises, attics tend to be much warmer than other parts of the house. When a roof is damaged due to a thunderstorm or hurricane, roof damage can occur. This leads to a leak, which results in mold growth in as little as 24 hours.
Checking for discoloration or staining on the rafters and joists can help you determine whether or not you have a roof leak and attic mold growth.
Attic Mold Caused by Poor Ventilation
Mold needs humidity to thrive. It has this if your home has poor ventilation. Poor ventilation can cause humidity to spread throughout the house, as opposed to being pumped out. Make sure that all of your fans in both your laundry room, kitchen, and bathroom are working properly. If they’re not, it may be a sign that humidity is being pumped straight into your attic.
Attic Mold Caused by Missing Insulation
Missing or inadequate insulation is another common cause of attic mold growth. Insulation serves as a barrier that prevents air conditioning from dissipating too quickly. If your attic is missing insulation, this can cause warm air to circulate and cause condensation when it meets the cold roof. This combination can cause mold spores to develop.
If you own a home, it’s important to make sure that you always have insulation upstairs in your attic, especially in the north-side areas.
Attic Mold Caused by Openings in the Ceiling
Mold growth can also be caused by openings in your ceilings, exhaust fans, and any other fixture that can allow warm air to escape to the attic. If these areas aren’t properly sealed, it can cause mold.
Signs of Attic Mold
Unfortunately, mold can develop in as little as 24 hours. However, if you’re not spending a lot of time in your attic, you might not notice it until it’s too late.
If you suspect mold in your attic, be on the lookout for:
- Dark spots or discoloration on wood
- A musky odor
- The onset of allergy symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, or stuffy nose
Contact the Pros at Green Genie Environmental to Remove Mold From Your Attic Today
If you suspect that you have mold, your best defense is to call an attic mold removal professional. At Green Genie Environmental, removing mold is our specialty. Furthermore, we only use eco-friendly methods of mold removal so you don’t have to worry about any harmful or toxic chemicals entering your home. When you’re ready to move forward with mold removal, our team of professionals is here for you. Give us a call at (716) 466-6653.