MOLD AND MILDEW IN YOUR ATTIC? HOW TO PREVENT THIS SILENT KILLER
I’ve witnessed a plethora of home disasters when renovating and constructing, but none as devastating as the destruction caused by mold and mildew. I say this as mold issues pose a serious threat to both the structural integrity of the home and also the health and safety of homeowners.
Mold is a silent killer that can trigger a range of severe effects on your health including, but not limited to:
Asthma and allergies
Autoimmune conditions and low immune system
Fatigue, lack of energy
Frequent headaches
Mood swings, anxiety, and depression
Skin issues like rash, hives, psoriasis
With most of us riding out the pandemic indoors, it’s more important than ever to ensure our homes are properly ventilated and we are breathing clean air. Let’s dive in to the causes of mold and my #1 recommendation on how to keep your home and family safe.
Dark Black or Brown Spots on Attic Surfaces. If you see dark brown or black areas on the wood surfaces of your attic, chances are you have a mold issue. Prolonged exposure to black mold (which can recirculate into your home through air vents in your attic) should be addressed immediately.
A Hot Stuffy Attic Space. Is your attic surprisingly hot or do you see condensation building up? Excessive heat, humidity and surface moisture facilitate ideal conditions for the growth of mold and mildew in attic spaces.
Unpleasant Odors. A musty or stale smell in your attic likely points to moisture issues.
Water Stains or Leaks on the Ceiling. Water leaks or damage are a sure sign you have mold in your attic.
Ice Dams on the Underside of the Roof. In the winter months, water vapor in a poorly ventilated attic can freeze on the underside of your roof, resulting in ice dams. These ice dams aren’t hard to miss and will lead to a moisture problem.
What Causes Attic Mold?
Even though the attic is the most common place for mold to grow in a home, it’s probably the last place homeowners think to look. As I’ve said in previous blogs: “If you’re not managing your attic, it’s managing you!”
The attic acts as the lungs of the home, and if the space is not able to adequately breathe, moisture and condensation quickly become a breeding ground for mold. Watch Season 2 of “Island of Bryan” for a quick recap on the disastrous effects of inadequate ventilation (Hint: Moisture issues at the resort resulted in rotted wood and termites in the attics and drywall of the hotel rooms. It was a nightmare!)
Prevent Mold with a Solar Attic Fan
My #1 solution to preventing mold in your home is ensuring your attic has adequate ventilation with a solar powered attic fan. A solar attic fan continuously expels moist air during the summer and damp winter months. Since it’s powered by the sun, a solar attic fan will never lead to a spike in your electric bills (in fact, the fan actually lowers bills by reducing the strain on your air-conditioner!) The constant re-circulation of air year-round ensures mold spores do not accumulate on attic surfaces or re-circulate into your home.
When our team experienced rot, mold, and termite issues at our destination resort in the Bahamas (Caerula Mar Club), we joined forces with the best in attic management: iSolar Solutions. There are currently twenty 19W-MOD iSolar fans installed on the roof of the resort, and they have done a fantastic job reducing moisture levels in the hotel rooms and improving the comfort levels for our guests.
iSolar offers solar attic fans ranging from 250 CFM to 1125 CFM (hourly average in direct sunlight). The full line of iSolar fans can be found at isolarsolutions.com/shop.
