Is Mold In Attic Common
Yes, attic mold is common because it can be found in any property, old or new. The condition for the growth of mold is abnormal moisture levels in the attic. Although attic mold can be found in all homes, research has shown that older homes are at a higher risk of attic mold infestation. This is because they often have faulty insulation that allows moisture to penetrate, thus creating suitable conditions for mold growth. The most common type of mold that grows in attics is Penicillium andAspergillus.
A: First Use Moldstat Plus To Kill Attic Mold Then Fix Your Vents
Gloria, you have it right, the combination of moisture and wood makes for good eating for the city of mold growing in your attic. Idea wise certainly killing attic mold on wood is the sweet spot for using MoldSTAT + mold killer. More details about how to go about application and the tools are a bit lower on this page.
What we wanted to call your attention to is when to kill the mold. We recommend quickly killing the attic mold now to prevent the growth from getting even more out of control. By eliminating the mold that has already built up you will reduce spread of mold spores that will happen from the activity of replacing the existing duct work. Once the duct work is replaced, then as a final step, we suggest a re-application of the mold stat plus to get rid of any lingering mold that may have been jostled loose during the construction activity.
As far as a need for Mold Prevention Solutions, as long as the moisture is under control, the attic mold is unlikely to regrow, so a mold sealant would be over kill, but it might make sense to use an anti-microbial mold prevention spray as a final pass to afford 6 months of prevention as the overall attic moisture levels recede.
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Making A Mold Removal Spray
According to, HowToRemoveBlackMold.com, to make a mold removal spray, mix half white vinegar and half water in a spray bottle and spray down the mold colony. Tea tree oil and white vinegar are both completely natural and safe for wood and have strong fungicidal properties.For larger mold jobs, vinegar and tea tree oil may not be strong enough.
You can also try hydrogen peroxide, which is a strong but safe and natural alternative. Mix 1 part peroxide with 2 parts water and spray it on the moldy area, letting it dry for an hour. Scrub the area with a firm wire brush and allow it to dry one last time. Remove the plastic sheeting and repair any leaks to prevent new mold spores from emerging in the future. If your attempts at attic mold removal still don’t work, contact a mold remediator for further advice, as some mold infestations are so large, they are better handled by a professional.
Things You Will Need
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What Are Mold And Mildew
Mold is not a plant or an animal. Mold is a microscopic organism thats part of the fungi kingdom. It occurs in every warm part of the world where theres a moist environment. The exact number of different mold species is unknown, but scientists estimate that over 100,000 different types of mold microorganisms exist. Statistics from the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta report that at least 1,000 species of mold are common in the United States.
Mold is a natural part of all environments where other oxygen-dependent organisms thrive. Youre exposed to mold every day. Outdoors, mold plays an important role in breaking down cellular matter and allowing it to decay as part of the decomposition process. Soil enrichment wouldnt occur without mold. Typically, fallen trees and dead leaves turn moldy within days, especially where light is limited and air is plentiful.
Indoors, mold acts much the same way. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency in their informative publication A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, mold can take hold within 24 to 48 hours after a warm enclosed area like a bathroom wall becomes wet. It can colonize within a week and spread immediately.
Its the causes of mold that are most important to know to prevent it from taking hold.
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Blocked Or Insufficient Ventilation
The most common cause of attic mold, by far, is blocked or insufficient ventilation of the attic space. Attics usually have a passive ventilation system in which outside air comes in through the soffit/eave vents at the bottom, warms up in the attic, and escapes through the can or ridge vents at the top . That cycle creates a nice, breezy airflow and a well-ventilated attic. See this illustration:
However, we often see the soffit/eave vents blocked with insulation, thereby destroying the whole passive ventilation system. And when that system is destroyed, warm and humid air in the attic will stagnate, and often condense along the cold wood sheathing in the winter, causing wet wood and subsequent mold growth throughout much of the attic.
We also see mold growth in attics if there are not enough vents installed. Check your local building codes for whats required in your area, but in general, 1 square foot of venting is needed for every 100 square feet of attic space.
Any home inspector worth their salt will check a houses attic ventilation system. To pass an inspection, and to ensure that an attic stays cool and dry, make sure theres a proper system in place thats unblocked by insulation.
Knowing the proper signs of attic mold, and how to prevent it to begin with, can save you a major headache during the sale of your home.
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First Is It Really Attic Mold
Attic mold growth comes in a wide variety of colors and growth patterns, some of which are often misdiagnosed. Fuzzy /3-dimensional mold growth is nearly always identified correctly. When the growth pattern is very flat and appears like staining, it can cause confusion.
Low profile mold staining
Uniform black mold growth on attic sheathing
3 dimensional spotting
White and green fuzzy growth on OSB sheathing
Pathways For Moisture To Get To The Attic
There are multiple sources of moisture in the home but why do some homes have moisture and mold problems in the attic while other homes do not? As described above, there can be varying sources of moisture in a home and every house has different conditions and pathways that will allow the moisture to rise up to the attic. What are some of the main pathways?
- Attic hatches or attic pull-down stairs
- Recessed light fixtures or even regular light fixtures
- Ductwork and ceiling vent covers
- Bathroom exhaust fans
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Common Causes Of Mold In Your Home
Mold can grow just about anywhere but is most commonly found in areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, basements, cabinets, and near pipes or ducting areas. It only needs a few elements to grow and proliferate throughout your home, the key element being moisture.
Mold behind drywall may be one of the most common household problem areas as drywall, wood, and cotton are ideal food sources.
Ceiling mold is also highly common due to a lack of ventilation and accumulation of moisture.
If the temperature is right, there is a moisture source and enough oxygen, you can be sure mold will begin to grow and spread.
Here are 10 of the most common causes of mold in your home:
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How To Get Rid Of Mildew In The Attic
Mildew grows in a thin, black or whitish layer on a variety of materials in your attic. It thrives in warm, dark, moist areas and produces a musty odor that clings to everything it touches. Cleaning mildew from your attic is not a difficult task, but it does require some time and patience. Once mildewed surfaces are cleaned, your attic will need some help drying out to prevent more mildew from developing.
1.
Remove any clothing or fabrics from your attic that are stained with mildew. Take them outside and brush off mildew spores with a soft brush.
2.
Hang fabrics outside in the sun to kill any spores remaining on the fabric and then wash with bleach and dry.
3.
Remove old papers, boxes or items that you cannot save or that you dont wish to keep. Replace porous materials like cardboard with plastic containers to prevent mildew from forming on fabrics and paper in the future.
4.
Mix 1 cup of chlorine bleach and 1 gallon of water in a bucket and carry the solution to your attic.
5.
Dip a cloth or a soft brush into the solution and scrub the mold from all surfaces in your attic. If there are surfaces that might be damaged with bleach, vinegar is also effective in cleaning mildew and can be applied undiluted to mold.
6.
Rinse surfaces with clean water, and leave them to dry. You may need to repeat applications of bleach and water in heavily mildewed areas.
7.
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What Are The Effects Of A Mold In Attic
Mold in the attic, including crawl spaces, is a problem. Mold can irritate allergies in some people and create an unpleasant odor in your home, and can potentially be dangerous to you or your familys health. Left untreated long enough, mold can cause severe structural damage and expensive repairs. Thats why its critical to find and remove the existing mold in your attic as soon as you are aware of it.
Spores are most potent when multiplied. For this reason, once attic mold begins growing, there is no way to stop it from spreading throughout the entire house by air moving through vents and air ducts in your HVAC system. This means that by the time you see visible mold on the ceiling of your attic or top of insulation around wall cavities or along wood beams, it has already spread across much of your home.
Ventilation Wont Prevent Attic Mold Growth
Top photo Encapsulate misapplied over mold growth on the underside of an attic roof deck
We get anumber of calls about attic mold, especially during real estate transactions.
Ironicallyenough, a building occupant is much more apt to be exposed to spores from moldgrowth in a basement than in an attic, because air in a house flows from bottomto top and out, especially in the heating season. Still, in a house withcentral A/C, there may be leaky ducts in a moldy attic, or an air handler witha filter holder that isnt airtight. Then spores from attic mold growth can beentrained into the mechanical system. And occupants who use the attic forstorage can disturb mold growth.
Once ithas been established that black staining on attic sheathing is indeed moldgrowth, the first question to ask is: why is it growing and/or why did it growthere? If this question isnt answered,a lot of money can be spent on remediation, and the mold growth will mostlikely return.
Attic mold growth near a bathroom vent
MayIndoor Air Investigations LLC
My one caution with SPF is that if improperly mixedor applied, the insulation can off-gas noxious odors, so an experienced companyshould be hired. In addition, SPF must be covered with a fire-protectivecoating such as intumescent paint. I recommended that a DennyFoil barrier bestapled to the rafters, and then drywall installed to cover the barrier andfoam. The foil would prevent off-gassing, and the drywall would act as afire-protective coating.
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How To Remove Mold From Attic
Every house at least once gets mold infestation. It is easier to spot and easiest to have a professional service remove it. But there are steps that you can follow to remove it yourself. Here is what you can do for attic mold removal.
Step 1:
Seal the surrounding
Use tape and spread a plastic sheeting in your attic. This prevents the spreading of mold spores around the house.
Wet Vacuum
Use a wet vacuum to clear the accumulated water. The wet vacuum will suck up the mold spores. Avoid using a dry vacuum. It will only release mold into the air.
Clean up and dry the area
After using the vacuum treatment, sweep and scrub the area. Dry out the attic with fans or heaters. A dehumidifier will be of help. Ensure that the attic is clean and dry before you step ahead with the next method.
Step 2
Dry ice blasting
Dry ice blasting is very effective in the mold removal process. It reaches tight spaces and gaps in framings and other difficult-to-reach areas. With its thermal shock, dry ice blasting loosens up the mold and lifts it from the surface of the attic.
Chemicals
Chemical treatments can be a little hazardous but the use of anti-microbial chemicals help to remove mold. They can be combined with other methods as well.
Attic Mold Is Common And Doesnt Have To Cost You Thousands
If you have the unfortunate experience of having to deal with attic mold, know that youre not alone. Attic mold is very common and is dealt with by tens of thousands of families every year.
Attic mold is caused by moisture issues. If your attic is well ventilated and has no moisture intrusion, you wont have attic mold to deal with.
And while it will cost some money to take care of it, know that it can be taken care of, quickly and at a reasonable cost. Your local mold professional can help. Good luck!
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How Does Mold Spread In The House
- Date: 02-2019
Moldis a form of fungi that sprouts from microscopic spores that are everywhere inour environment. These spores are inactive, however, they will propagate oncethe humidity surpasses 70 percent. Temperature that is more than 65 degreesincreases the chance of mold growth. Once the cluster of mold spores spread onsurfaces, they begin to reproduce and become noticeable to the human eye. Youmay not be aware that there is mold in your home until you see it or smell adamp, musty, moldy odor. And when you notice your allergies and asthma tend toflare.
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Moist Air Escaping Into Your Cold Attic Promotes Mold Growth & Wood Rot
Moist air typically finds its way into your attic from poor ventilation and air leaks. We find that in most houses, the bathroom vent fan is dumping moist air into the attic rather than outside. If your bathroom vent fan isn’t installed properly, when you take a hot shower, all that moist air could be dumping into your attic space.
Air leaks around recessed light fixtures, heating vents, the attic access hatch, and other cracks can also allow warm air to escape into the attic. No matter how it got there, when this warm, humid air hits the cold underside of the roof deck, the moisture condenses, and water drips down the rafters, onto the attic floor and insulation. Wet wood and fiberglass insulation are ideal environments for mold.
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Tips For Mold Prevention
After you learn how to remove mold, focus on preventing it in the future. Controlling dampness is the key to stopping most mold. The worst infestations usually occur in damp crawl spaces, attics, walls where water leaked in from the outside, and in basements with poor foundation drainage. Stopping leaks, ensuring good ventilation in attics, keeping crawl spaces dry and routing water away from the foundation are the best defenses against mold.
Mildewcide in paint is usually effective for controlling surface mold in damp rooms like bathrooms, and outside in shady areas. Many paints already have mildewcide in them. Check with your paint dealer about mold removal products.
Attic Mold Remediation Methods
Mold found in the attic is most commonly caused by a rapid change in weather conditions. Warm air keeps your home comfortable in the winter time, but that warm are is filled with moisture. This air travels up through the house, until it makes its way into your attic. Mold begins to form when this warm moist air comes in contact with the underside of a cold roof.
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How To Remove Mold In Attic
Inspecting the source: When you have addressed the problem of mold in your attic, the first step is to check the area and find out what is the actual source that is causing the problem. It can have leaks, gaps beside fans or the damaged ventilation. When you identify the source, it will be easier to get rid of the problem.
Determine the type of mold: You have to determine what type of mold is causing the problem. If it is a white mold, then having a natural treatment will be enough, but if it is black mold, then you may need some professional help or chemical solution to get rid of this problem. Make sure you take all the protective measures at the time of cleaning the molds in the attic.
Cleaning with detergent: If you already have some mold spores on the attic, you clean it by normal detergent powder. Wear a mask and gloves before starting the procedure. Take a certain amount of detergent powder and mix it on a big pot with hot water. Scrub the place where mold exists. Sometimes people want to use bleach as a solution, but it is not recommended. Bleach can only clean the surface mold, but most of the attic is deep mold.
Dry Ice blasting: Ice blasting is considered the most effective solution for removing the mold from wood. There are many ice blasting vanguard that you can use to remove mold. The main advantage of dry ice blasting is that it does not contain any toxic elements and is safe from any chemical hazard.
