Top 4 Reasons Why You Have Mold in Your Attic & What to Do About It

Attic mold thrives in warm, damp, humid environments.  Failure to pinpoint and address the source will only result in mold manifesting itself after clean-up has taken place.  Left ignored, a moldy attic can result in a breakdown of your roof’s structural components and attic sheathing.  This is one of the many reasons why insulation is a powerful tool for attic mold prevention.  Here are four common reasons attic mold growth occurs.

Leaky Roofs Can Lead To Attic Mold

Rafters, insulation, and sheathing with mold growth and discoloration are signals that the moisture source is a leaky roof.  Improper or weakened flashing around valleys, chimneys, and skylights can allow for water penetration into a home’s attic.  Ultimately, this will create mold.   

Improper Installation of Bathroom Exhaust Fans Causes Excess Attic Moisture & Mold

One of the biggest bath fan installation mistakes is having it vent into home’s attic instead of outdoors.  This approach introduces an unnecessary amount of moist air into the space.  When the warm, humid air encounters the attic’s cold roof sheathing, condensation takes place.  This leads to wet rafters and insulation, creating an environment for mold to thrive. 

Flawed Insulation: The Wrong Choice Can Cause Common Mold Or Black Mold In Attics

Attic insulation projects should be entrusted to reliable professionals that have a working understanding of building envelopes.  Opting for the wrong combination of insulation types or improper installation will trap the moisture that’s risen from the home’s lower levels.  With an inability to escape, the moisture will create an environment for mold to thrive.

Unsound Ventilation & Soffit Insulation Traps Moisture In Attic 

A common mistake insulation DIYers make is placing insulation in a home’s soffit vent.  Doing so prevents the vents from allowing in outside air to regulate a home’s attic temperature, creating a scenario that raises the attic’s temperature, allowing ice dams to form.  If ice dams cause water damage within the attic, it’s only a matter of time before insulation becomes saturated, allowing mold to grow. 

It’s vital that attic ventilation be balanced, allowing an equal amount of incoming and outgoing air.  Utilizing multiple ventilation systems in tandem can also lead to the creation of mold because the vents can cause moist air to circulate instead of dispelling it.     

Components That Make Up a 50 Year Roofing System & Prevent Attic Mold:

Is Mold In The Attic Dangerous?

Long answer short, attic mold can be incredibly dangerous to your health and to your home.  Unfortunately, out of sight does not mean out of mind when it comes to attic mold.  Moldy insulation should be removed, not only because it means the insulation’s properties are compromised, but also because of the health hazards associated with it.  Mold spores have the ability to circulate throughout your home.  This can lead to respiratory infections, eye irritations, compromised immune systems, and an array of allergic reactions.