The Unwanted Guest: Black Mold in Your Attic
Everyone has heard of mold and how it is not healthy for anyone to be around. However, what happens if the mold is hiding somewhere in your house and you can’t see it? Well, that means you need to be vigilant and know what signs to look for when it comes to mold hiding in plain sight. Now, don’t freak out because that is what this article is here for.
This article explains how black mold gets into your attic, what the signs are, and how this can affect your health.
Mold Sneaking into Your Attic
Attics are the most common places to find mold in a home. They are the perfect homes for mold, they’re hot, humid, and there is a lot of food for them to it. Also, it gets loads of quiet time because homeowners do not tend to go up into their attic. For any mold, your attic is the best place to be. However, how did it get there in the first place, you might be wondering. Well, there are three causes for mold in your attic:
- Insufficient or blocked ventilation
- There is improper exhausting of dryer vents and bathroom fans
- Roof problems
Insufficient or Blocked Ventilation
This is number one on the list because this is the most common reason for mold in an attic. When the attic is not properly ventilated, it allows for a mold breeding ground to appear. Attics have a passive ventilation system, which means that the air from the outside comes in through the vents at the bottom, it then warms up the attic, and it leaves through the ridges at the top. However, when the air cannot leave the attic, it then creates a warm and damp area for mold to grow.
One of the reasons for this is insulation. Many find that the insulation is either completely or partially covering the vents, which then stops the airflow to move smoothly.
Improper Exhausting of Dryer Vents and Bathroom Fans
It’s important to know that all the vents, exhausts, and fans in your home are made to pump the moisture out of your home, so when they fail, that moisture gets stuck and breeds mold. You want to double-check where the moisture is being taken because if it is not being taken directly outside and it is being stopped in the attic, it might be creating a home for mold.
Roof Problems
If you have a leaky roof of any kind, then you are opening yourself up to mold in your attic. Once the water comes into your attic and condensation begins to build up, the mold can start to grow and breed.
What Are the Signs of Mold?
These are a few of the tell-tale signs of mold in your home:
- If any of the wood in your attic is black from discoloration then you have mold.
- Does your attic feel stuffy? Then you have a ventilation problem that can result in mold.
- Is there water dripping from your smoke detectors, bath fans, or light fixtures? It means you have a lot of moisture in your attic and mold can breed in there.
Your Health Is at Risk
When you have mold in your attic, do not think you are too far away from it to affect you. Your eyes, skin, or nose can become irritated. If you already have asthma, then it can worsen and cause even more respiratory problems. Many people can also have an allergic reaction and a weakened immune system.
Conclusion
Just because you cannot see the mold, it can still affect you in a very big way. Look after your home and check your attic space because it tends to be a breeding ground for mold. Do not let it secretly live in your home, evict it as soon as you can.
