Essential Ways to Prevent Mould in the Attic
Wherever there’s moisture, mould doesn’t take long to appear. This goes for most areas in a home, including the attic. The roof may leak, ventilation may be lacking, or appliances may blow air into the attic. These are some of the most common causes of attic mould growth. Below are essential tips on how to prevent mould in the attic (hint: moisture control is the key).
How to prevent mould in the attic
Inspecting for leaks
First, here are the things to inspect in the attic to find leaks:
- The wood (such as joists and rafters) and insulation
- The area where the two roofs join at an angle
- The area around attic plumbing stacks
Providing attic ventilation
After checking for leaks, proper attic ventilation must be ensured. The moisture levels in the attic increase without enough ventilation. This factor is critical in winter, when warm air rises to ceiling, enters the attic, and condenses on the cold surfaces of the attic. Thus, the attic should have adequate ventilation so that moisture created by condensation can escape. Additionally, the attic vents (soffit, ridge, and gable-mounted vents) should not covered with insulation.
Insulation can also prevent attic mould
The next tip on how to prevent mould in the attic is to provide proper insulation. It’s important because attic insulation controls the temperature and moisture levels in the attic. In winter, attic temperature should be at or near the outside air temperature to prevent condensation and ice dams. The attic floor must be properly insulated to minimize the air transfer between the living area and the attic. Also, the insulation of other areas and surfaces in the attic, such as those of heating ducts, must be in good shape.
Maintaining appliances in the attic
In addition, maintaining attic appliances is also important. Appliances, such as air conditioners, swamp coolers, and HVAC systems, do fail sometimes, which can cause water damage. So, when inspecting the attic, checking these appliances for damage and loose connections is a great idea.
Venting appliances to the outside
A final tip on how to prevent mould in the attic is making sure that appliances vent to the outside. Dryer, kitchen, and bathroom vents should always not blow air in the attic, but outside. Otherwise, the attic ventilation system could become overwhelmed. Consequently, it may not be able to eliminate the resulting moisture efficiently.
To check if an appliance does vent in the attic, the trajectory of the metal or plastic pipes should be checked. If there are no pipes, here’s a trick to try — turning on the venting appliances (and bathroom vent) and following the noise to know where they blow out air. The vents may be hidden under the attic’s floor insulation.
These tips on how to prevent mould in the attic are not enough to help property owners avoid mould in their entire home. Of course, mould can hide in many other places in a house. Here are six unusual areas in a home where mould may hide.
For attic mould removal, call the PuroClean certified restoration specialists!
Once mould has infested an attic, time is of the essence! Professional mould removal services are needed. Mould can extend to other areas of the home and compromise the health of the occupants. The PuroClean team stands ready to provide professional restoration services to any property affected by fire, water or mould damage.
