Don’t Let Attic Mold Sneak Up on You
Aside from jeopardizing a real estate transaction and scaring potential buyers, attic mold can cause serious problems in a home. If you are looking forward to selling your property, fixing the attic mold situation would be the best thing unless you want to take the big risk of buyers walking away. Even if you are not selling your property, keeping your attic nice and clean would benefit everyone living under that roof a great deal.
Often, it is not unusual to find homes with attic mold. Still, the problem with attic mold is that it can go unrecognized, especially if the house residents never access the attic. If you are one of these people who have never had their attic cleaned, it is probably time to consult a professional company.
Dangers of Attic Mold
Many of us assume that mold is only an issue in plainly moist places. Generally, mold can thrive in places like basements and bathrooms, but it can also grow everywhere in our homes. The attic, for instance, is among the most frequently ignored areas in which mold growth can take place. Unfortunately, this is also one of the most dangerous and pernicious mold circumstances. Mold will be visible on most home basement walls or bathroom tiles. As a result, detecting the issue before major structural destruction is paramount. Still, the majority of people do not frequently use their attics. For this reason, mold can thrive in this concealed space for extended periods before the owners realize they have an attic mold problem.
How Does Mold Get to the Attic?
Despite popular perception, mold does not thrive inside the thick layers of insulation installed in almost every attic; however, it can form on top of this insulation. Generally, the molding starts somewhere else in the attic. As an example, consider nearby cellulose-rich structural components such as wood or paper. Mold spores get attached to these components then progressively deviate downwards, sitting on the insulating material. If a food supply is present, the mold can recreate abundantly all over the exterior of the insulation.
The said food supply is usually dust since mold can successfully eat dead dust mites, establishing a mutually supportive food web of allergens. These allergens eventually make their way into the air underneath the house. The situation is similar in every room of the house. A source of moisture is required for mold to grow in the attic. Rain may sip in through an obvious channel, like a leak in the roofing. However, even if your roof is in good condition, a mold infestation can grow beneath it. If there is insufficient ventilation and/or a leak somewhere in the air conditioning system, you will likely suffer mold infestation.
Regardless of where the humidity in the attic originates from, it rapidly permeates the cellulose substances and becomes stuck inside the fibers of the insulating material, leading to a generally damp environment perfect for mold growth.
How to Know If There Is Attic Mold in Your House?
The most sensible way to find out whether there is mold in your attic is to hire a professional inspector to detect mold even if it isn’t visible to the human eye. This is accomplished by conducting a test on the sheathing, air, and insulation materials. You can also purchase a mold test kit and do the testing yourself. However, after finding mold in the attic, do not be tempted to start clearing it by yourself. If not handled properly, the attic mold will spread to the rest of the rooms. Contact fire water damage pros to help you deal with attic mold in the right way before the situation escalates.
