Most Common Causes of Mold In Your Attic (And What to do About it)

Mold in the attic can grow completely unnoticed, it’s a place that isn’t visited frequently by most homeowners. Growing mold is a health hazard as well as a detriment to your property’s overall value. Here are a few ways mold grows in your attic and what to do about it.

1.  Leak in your Roof

One of the most common ways mold will grow is a leak from the roof. When rain or snow hits your roof, the moister will pour into any open cracks or leaks directly into the attic. When it is snowing, look for any bare patches on your roof. This could indicate that heat is leaving the attic out through the roof, causing the snow to melt and drip inside. The attic isn’t regularly visited, take precaution next time you go up there. If you encounter any mold, get your roof inspected and repaired.

2. Attic Insulation           

Many DIY homeowners feel a good way to save money on bills is to insulate the attic themselves. If the wrong type of insulation is used or installed incorrectly, it can actually hold in the moisture received from a leaky roof or any moisture from the lower floors. If the insulation stays damp, mold will continue to develop. Be sure to do your homework if you feel like doing your own insulation up in the attic or call a technician to properly asses how to approach your next project.

3. Poor Airflow                 

Homeowners tend to shut off all vents that lead to the attic. Doing this, they think shutting them off means nothing will get in. Which sadly means there will be a poor circulation of air flow. Having that constant ventilation allows any type of dampness to expel faster than it would being shut off from outside airflow.

4. Vents in the Home

Make sure that you don’t have any vents (kitchen, bathroom fans, dryer) leading directly into the attic. If you do, contact a handyman to re-route those vents to go outside. Pumping in this heat constantly will contribute to the poor airflow in the attic and accelerate mold growth.

Keep an eye out for mold on your next trip to the attic. If you smell or see anything irregular, please contact us for a free quote.  GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration can evaluate the current insulation in your crawlspace / attic. Call us today: 631-940-8100 or email us at info@gogreenprocleaning.com