3 Reasons to Minimize Moisture Levels in your Attic

Unless you have converted your attic into an additional living area for your home, there is a good chance that you and the members of your household spend little if any time in this space. Despite the fact that the attic in your home may remain unused for years, save for storing a few boxes, it is vitally important to control the environment in this space in terms of both temperature and moisture levels. Here are three examples of problems that can be caused by excessive heat and/or moisture in an uncontrolled attic:

1) Weakened insulation – Moisture that enters the attic through the roof or is trapped due to a lack of ventilation can create a variety of problems, but one that doesn’t get a lot of attention is that moisture can drastically reduce the effectiveness of insulation by allowing heat to radiate through it rather than being blocked. If you have ever burned your fingers when pulling a hot pan out of the oven with a wet kitchen mitt, you’ve seen how quickly heat travels through wet insulation.  

2)  An environment suited for the growth of mold and mildew – Moisture that leaks into a dark, warm attic, or is trapped there, creates an environment that is perfect for the growth of mold and mildew. While the odor of mildew is basically considered to be an inconvenience, the spores emitted from black mold can cause a variety of respiratory and other health issues. A humid attic environment can also foster wet and dry rot, which will steadily weaken the home’s framing as well as the structures that support the roof.  

3) The potential for the formation of ice dams – High levels of moisture in the attic may be an indication that warm air is condensing as it rises and comes in contact with the cold surface of the ceiling or the underside of the roof deck. In this situation, the heat from the attic will radiate through the roof deck at a temperature that is warm enough to melt accumulated snow, which then runs down the roof and re-freezes on the eaves to form a ledge along the edge of the roof that grows in size over time. Referred to as an ice dam, this ledge will trap water and back it up under the roofing materials and then leak into the structure.       

Controlling temperature and moisture in the attic requires three steps; preventing leaks, installing insulation, and adding ventilation. By combining these steps, the temperature and moisture levels in the attic can be controlled with results that include energy savings, a mildew/mold free environment, and a long-lasting roof that requires few if any repairs over its lifetime.