The word mold can have a scary stigma. While mold is a very serious issue, it isn’t as costly as many think to mitigate the problem.

Mold can be caused by many different variables. We most commonly find mold in attic spaces. This is typically due to improper ventilation of bathroom fans, and inadequate insulation or ventilation to the attic.

Let me explain a little bit about air moisture to help you better understand how mold is created.

The temperature of the air determines how much moisture the air will hold, which directly impacts the moisture in an attic. When the air is warmer it has the capacity to hold more moisture. In other words it has the potential of being humid.  Dewpoints rise and lower with the temperature. An imbalance between the air and an object creates dew residue or condensation.

An effective attic will heat up during the day and absorb the moisture from the air. The hot air then exits through the ridge vent, a vent on the top of the house, and takes the higher moisture content with it. New, cooler air is circulated into the attic from the soffit vents decreasing the moisture capacity as the air mixes. The cycle created allows the attic to not reach a dewpoint eliminating residue or condensation. (see image below)

 

On a cooler, cloudy, or rainy day/night, the temperatures are considered “raw” therefore having little to no capacity to hold moisture. The attic does not heat up, so the air flow from the soffit vents to the ridge vent declines or stops. Because the moisture in the air is low, the attic never reaches dewpoint and therefore the attic surfaces stay dry.

If an attic has a faulty ridge vent that doesn’t allow air to escape, or faulty soffit vents, that doesn’t allow new cooler air to enter, the air becomes trapped. The moisture content remains high. When the outside temperature begins to drop, condensation will begin to appear on the coolest surfaces, usually the roof, due to the lack of insulation. In some instances, the bathroom fan is directly vented into the attic, adding more moisture to stagnant air.

Mold only requires moisture content over 22% to germinate its spores. If mold becomes present in your home, it is important you call an expert in to assess and resolve the situation.

 

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-“By Failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail” – Benjamin Franklin