The Summer Threat: Mold Growth and Hot Attics
As the mercury begins to rise with the onset of summer, the potential threat of toxic mold lurks within your home. The increased temperatures of the summer season is problematic in mold prevention as it poses the most opportune conditions for mold growth in your attic and throughout your home. Attic conditions are often an afterthought in most homes, though they present favorable conditions for mold colonization. Once mold takes hold of an attic space, it can spread rampantly. Having the knowledge to identify mold and understand the environmental components that enables it to thrive, is essential in preventing this dangerous home invader.
Taming the Moisture: Strategies for Mold Prevention
Proactivity is essential for mold prevention. Routine inspection of your home, especially your attic, can prove to be a simple, yet effective means to preventing summertime mold infestations. Mold can spread rapidly and identifying and eliminating the source as quickly as possible, is your best defense. The common sources of moisture in your attic occur from leaks in your home’s roof, walls, or plumbing. Areas that are vulnerable to admitting moisture are vent pipes, chimneys, and roof seams. Clogged gutters are also problematic for accruing moisture in the uppermost regions of the home.
Upon discovering an area where moisture is infiltrating your home, it is imperative to repair these issues immediately. Areas that have been afflicted with moisture must be dried or removed as soon as they are discovered. Any items or materials that contain moisture will provide the means for mold growth.
Conquering Attic Mold: Ventilation and Insulation
Your attic’s ventilation and insulation play a critical role in combating mold growth. Attics naturally retain heat, but proper insulation and effective ventilation can dissipate the heat and be integral in mold prevention. Insulation works as a radiant barrier as it deflects excessive heat from entering your home. Utilizing insulation that is resistant to fungi is an excellent choice.
Ventilation systems pull cooler outside air into your attic while expelling overheated air. Attic temperatures anywhere in the range of 41 to 140 degrees can foster mold development. Temperatures that exceed the upper threshold of that range can damage roofing materials and increase the potential for a leaky roof. Proper air circulation through the ventilation system will mitigate the accumulation of hot and humid air in your attic. Several types of ventilation systems can be used for mold prevention such as:
- Fans to create air circulation
- Soffit and ridge vents
- Light colored roofing materials
- Shaded doors and windows
A well ventilated attic will hold temperatures within 10 to 20 degrees of the rest of the home. Attics that are adequately ventilated and insulated prevent mold and are energy efficient.
Controlling Humidity Levels in the Attic
When the mercury soars, so does the humidity in the Mid-Atlantic region. During the summer, nature itself can prove to be problematic in mold prevention. High outdoor humidity can wreak havoc in your attic as it can incite mold growth and drive up energy costs. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests that indoor humidity levels should be maintained near 50-60 percent. In many areas, humidity can reach much higher levels during the summer months. To combat these levels from damaging your home or enabling toxic mold to flourish, several techniques can be applied:
- Use air conditioning units that extract water through evaporator coils
- Place exhaust fans directly vented outside the home
- Install whole-house dehumidifiers utilized in conjunction with a centralized HVAC system
- Airseal the home with weatherstripping and caulking
Managing humidity levels in your home will not only improve your home’s longevity and efficiency, it will diminish the risk of mold infestations.
Beyond the Attic: Preventing Mold Growth Throughout Your Home
Other spaces in your home can also come under attack from mold this summer. Rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens have a higher likelihood to hold higher temperatures and humidity than others. Similarly to attics, ventilation and air circulation is essential. Exhaust fans that are directly vented to the outdoors are vital for mold prevention in these areas.
At the other end of your home, basements can also harbor high moisture and conceal damaging leaks. An effective mold prevention plan for your basement should include routine inspections for leaky pipes along with gutters and downspouts to prevent additional moisture entering your basement. Eliminating basement moisture and preventing mold colonization will also benefit from effective exterior grading and drainage. Ventilation and air movement is also critical. Directing moisture away from your home’s foundation will lead to a mold prevention strategy that begins from the ground up.
Contact MSR Restoration for Summer Mold Solutions
Planning your mold prevention strategy is your best solution for keeping your home safe in the sweltering summer heat. If mold has a head start on you, contact the mold remediation experts at MSR Restoration to enlist the help of our team of experts.
