Your attic may seem a less important part of your home, but humid conditions and the presence of wood materials encourage mold growth.

When mold growth gets overlooked or undiscovered for years, it can be dangerous to you and your family’s health. Also, it reduces the resale value of your property. This blog post will discuss five key steps you can use to rid your attic of mold. Let’s begin.

Inspect Your Attic for Any Signs of Mold

Molds commonly develop in high humidity and enclosed spaces. These two conditions can exist in a home with a poorly constructed attic or faulty roof insulation. You’ll see or smell mold when it is in your home.

But how do you identify mold? Here are some signs: 

Discoloration

One common sign of mold is black discoloration on attic wood material. Dark stains indicate that the wood is not only moist but harboring molds.

Warm Air

Another indicator is when the air from the attic feels overly warm, hot, or stuffy. Proper ventilation keeps air flowing properly through the attic. 

Lack of adequate ventilation often results in mold growth. Also, low ventilation causes water vapor to build up and freeze under roof sheathing in cold weather.

Mildew Smell

Mold gives a peculiar mildew smell to indicate a moisture problem. So if you perceive a musty or moldy smell anywhere in your home, the attic is one area you should check immediately.

Health Issues

Exposure to mold spores can lead to severe health problems. These conditions include allergic reactions, respiratory disorders, asthma attacks, headaches and migraines, and chronic sinus infections. In addition, young children, pregnant women, senior citizens, and people with compromised immune systems are easily susceptible. 

Other signs include water dripping from ceiling fixtures such as smoke detectors, lighting, and damp attic insulation. In any of these instances, Green Attic can help you check if mold exists in your home. We will take proactive steps to rid your house of it if it does.

 

Identifying the cause of mold growth is as vital as discovering the mold. As already mentioned, mold grows in an attic environment with excess moisture or buildup. Moisture can seep into your attic through various sources; roof leakage, condensation from incorrect venting, insufficient insulation, and poor ventilation.

Wrong Venting

Bathroom, kitchen, and dryer vents help remove hot, moist air inside the home. But when this moist air passes through the attic, it mixes with the cooler attic air. As this vapor changes to liquid to create condensation, the resulting moisture will cause mold growth.

Roof Leakage

The attic sits just below the roof. So, leaks from cracks or openings are another source of moisture in the attic environment. Common signs of roof leaks include wood stains and drips at roof joints.

Poorly Installed Insulation

Inadequate or poorly installed insulation also causes high humidity, an ideal condition for molds to grow.

Sometimes, indoor humidity can contribute to moisture for mold growth. High humidity levels in a building are often due to: humidifiers, steam radiators, and moisture-generating and combustion appliances.

Take Steps to Correct the Moisture Problem

It’s impossible to altogether remove or treat molds without correcting the moisture problem in your home. Different ways to correct moisture problems are:

• Inspect your home thoroughly to identify all possible sources of moisture buildup. You may need to repair or replace roofing, ceiling materials, and other faulty home plumbing.
• Install the proper ventilation in your attic. Redirect your home ventilation system, where necessary, so warm indoor air blows directly to the outdoors of your home and not through the attic.
• Prioritize fitting the appropriate attic insulation. In the winter, this feature helps maintain ideal temperatures in the space at or near the outdoor temperature.

Let Green Attic take care of your attic’s moisture problem. We will fix the underlying issue and improve ventilation. 

Clean Up the Mold and Dry Out the Attic

After confirming the presence of mold in your attic, the best next step is mold removal. You can employ two methods; removing the mold yourself or seeking professional mold remediation from Green Attic.

To remove mold, you must clean up and dry out your attic. But, moldy air could cause potentially serious health issues, so ensure you use protective equipment. These include gloves, a face respirator with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, disposable full-body clothing, head gear, foot covers, and fully enclosed goggles for eye protection.

Follow these steps when cleaning mold from your attic: 

• Use a wet vacuum to scoop up mold residue from contaminated surfaces
• Wet a rag or sponge with alcohol or essential oil (tea tree, preferably) and wipe the affected surfaces
• For thoroughly dried areas, use a HEPA vacuum cleaner and dispose of dirt in well-sealed plastic bags
• Remove all contaminated material such as insulation and drywall and dispose of these materials in sealed plastic waste bags.

Note that using bleach to disinfect or treat a mold-infested attic is not a practical solution.

DIY or Professional Removal?

Do-it-yourself (DIY) mold removal usually works when you have a minor mold issue in your bathroom or basement. Attic mold removal, however, carries a higher safety risk. In addition, extreme temperatures and limited attic space are potential cleaning challenges.

It can also be challenging to track down and remove mold behind existing drywall and insulation. Likewise, mold removal often requires professional equipment that most DIYers lack.

Mold remediation experts have the training and experience to adhere to industry standards. Also, professionals like Green Attic implement measures to prevent the re-growth of attic mold after removal.

Seal Off Access to the Attic to Prevent Future Water Damage and Mold Growth

At this point, it’s crucial to safeguard your attic against the return of mold. So, you’ll need to take steps to prevent potential water damage to your attic. A critical step is to seal all entry points for moisture into the attic space. 

These entry points include bathroom fans and hoses and recessed lighting. Also, seal cracks, holes, and gaps due to wiring, plumbing pipes, or vent ducts. Furthermore, check for and cover up leaks or cracks in your home roofing.

How Can We Help?

DIY removal and prevention of mold can be costly and time-consuming. Therefore, it is best to leave the work to the professionals. 

At Green Attic, we specialize in attic mold remediation. We provide proper treatment and preventive solutions and offer a five years free mold removal warranty. Schedule a free inspection today.