You might not think about your attic often – maybe you use it for storage or never go up there. Yet if mold has begun to grow in your insulated attic, it could quickly become a problem you’ll wish you’d found sooner. New Jersey Siding & Windows, Inc. explains everything you need to know about how mold occurs in attics and why you should take action right away if it’s present in yours.
How Does Mold Grow in Attics?
Mold only requires a few things to grow: oxygen, moisture, food, and a surface. Insulated attics are typically home to all of these thanks to hot, humid air and plenty of wood. Several factors make attics the perfect place for mold, including leaky roofs, improperly installed dryer vents and bathroom fans, and condensation from air conditioning equipment. However, the insulation itself can also contribute to maintaining this hot, humid environment by reducing ventilation.
Your attic includes a number of vents in the roof, eaves, and soffits, which allow air to pass inside and out. When insulation blocks these vents, air can’t pass and humidity can’t dissipate. The result? Heat and moisture are trapped in your attic with all the oxygen and food needed to encourage mold.
How Do You Know if There’s Mold In Your Attic?
Some homeowners visit their attics frequently, making it easy to spot mold. Whether you see mold or not, several signs indicate its presence, including:
- The scent of mildew
- Dark stains
- Damp insulation
- Excessively hot and/or stuffy air in the attic
- Water that drips from smoke detectors, bathroom fans, light fixtures, and other openings in the ceiling
If you notice any of these issues, it’s important to take action right away. Once mold begins to grow, it can spread quickly through your attic and into the rest of your home.
Is Mold in Your Attic Really a Serious Problem?
Mold isn’t just unsightly – it can also cause damage and make your family sick. When left unchecked, mold can stain any surface it touches, including walls, ceilings, floors, and more. Unpleasant odors are also common in moldy environments, and mold may deteriorate wood structures and cause them to weaken.
Additionally, mold spores travel unseen through the air from your attic to your home’s living areas. When this occurs, you may experience itchy eyes, a sore throat, difficulty breathing, and a runny nose. Beyond these minor symptoms, long-term mold exposure may result in asthma, autoimmune conditions, and even death in the most serious cases.
The cost of mold remediation is yet another reason to act immediately. Professional mold remediation is also expensive, with costs rising to thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. Whether you have mold in your attic today or simply see the conditions that prompt its growth, it’s easy to understand why you can’t ignore these signs.
Keep Your Insulated Attic Mold-Free
Proper insulation installed by experienced technicians is one of the best ways to prevent mold growth in your attic. When you choose New Jersey Siding & Windows for your attic insulation needs, our technicians take care to maintain proper ventilation while installing the eShield Perfect Attic Insulation System for a comfortable environment and energy efficiency. Contact us online or call 973-895-1113 to learn more and request a free quote.
