Before we start eliminating the mold in your attic, it is critical that we identify and understand its cause so we can be sure that the problem doesn’t return.
First off, we need to understand how an attic functions. All attics are designed to evacuate the warm air rising from the house so that it doesn’t linger. If the warm air remains and is in contact with cold air on the other side of the roof sheathing, condensation occurs which then turns into mold. This situation happens during the heating season and not during the summer months.
Here are the top 7 reasons why mold grows in the attic:
1. The soffits are blocked not allowing air to circulate.
2. The bathroom or kitchen fans are vented into the attic.
3. The bathroom or kitchen fans are vented into the soffits allowing the humid air that is supposed to be expelled to return immediately through the soffit.
4. The attic hatch is not insulated or properly sealed allowing hot air to rise into the attic.
5. Pot lights on the ceiling have not been correctly sealed leaving a hole in the ceiling for hot air to rise through.
6. If a Maximum ventilator has been installed, it clearly states on the installation sheet provided that all other openings other than the soffits must be sealed for the ventilator to function correctly. If there is another opening (gable vent) the ventilator will draw air from this closer source and not the soffits. The hot air from the house will then remain in the attic resulting in condensation and subsequent mold.
7. Attic insulation should be a minimum of R-30 with a proper vapor barrier. If the attic was insulated with bats of insulation that had a kraft paper vapor barrier backing, there is a good chance that it has now degraded to the point that it no longer serves as a valid vapor barrier. As a result, the hot air from the house is rising at a rate too fast to be dissipated by the normal air flow of the attic. This remaining hot air will cause condensation and then mold.
If you are concerned about mold in your attic, call Steri Mobile today to learn more about the most effective attic mold removal process on the market.