Attic Fan And Mold

Mold will survive in almost any environment that is the right temperature has moisture even in the air and has something for food e g.

Attic fan and mold.

Attic mold can happen in warm or cold weather. One of the most common causes of attic mold is a bathroom fan or dryer vent that runs into the attic. The most common cause of attic mold by far is blocked or insufficient ventilation of the attic space. An attic fan works by exchanging the hot air in your attic space for fresh air pulled through the vents.

Dryer vents plumbing vents kitchen or bathroom fans vented into the attic. Still in a house with central a c there may be leaky ducts in a moldy attic or an air handler with a filter holder that isn t airtight. While damp and warm climates are a prime breeding ground for our fuzzy friend other conditions that bring mold include lack of ventilation and proper sheathing. Mold located on ductwork on roof decking trusses or just about anywhere in the attic is simply a problem of excessive moisture.

High humidity in a space like an attic can lead to mold and a spill in a carpeted area of your home that isn t quickly taken care of can also lead to mold under the carpet. Since warm air rises if it comes into contact with the cold attic sheathing then condensation occurs. And occupants who use the attic for storage can disturb mold growth. Mold needs 3 things to grow.

If you used the attic fan during the winter to ventilate the roof it may have contributed to the moisture condition responsible for the mold. 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 because hot air rises. Solar attic fan to prevent mold. Require providing some sort of ventilation in attics in order to prevent or reduce damage to roofs caused by moisture laden air being trapped in attics.

If you eliminate just one of these elements mold will starve and die. When an attic is stuffy that indicates you have a ventilation problem which often results in mold problems. Building codes throughout the u s. Then spores from attic mold growth can be entrained into the mechanical system.

A musty smell in the attic. If you find black spots in your attic and you are thinking it could be harmful black mold you do not necessarily need to panic. Related to 3 above this practice can pump warm moist air into the attic where it can be trapped and begin the cycle of mold growth. Sure mold can smelllike a lot of things but an attic with mold will always have a pretty musty type odor.

Even with proper ventilation your air should not be vented directly into an attic. Frost buildup on the underside of the roof sheathing in winter. Causes of mold in your attic.