Moisture in the Attic: Where it Comes From and What to Do About it
Opening up your attic to find condensation, frost, wet insulation, or worse, mold, isn’t exactly a pleasant experience, and for many homeowners it can send them straight into a panic. Is your roofing about to fail? What caused this? How much damage has it done?
While the first and last questions are best addressed on a case-by-case basis, and you should definitely call a contractor with any concerns, understanding the potential causes of attic moisture can help you handle the situation more calmly. Haggerty Windows & Siding, your preferred Urbandale roofing contractors, discusses the subject below—what causes attic moisture, when to call a contractor, and what you can do about it in the meantime.
What Causes Attic Moisture?
The short answer: many things, and not all of them are problematic. Warm, humid air from daily living activities, such as washing the dishes and bathing, rises into the attic. When everything goes smoothly, it escapes through pre-placed roofing vents. A hitch in this progress—say, if your attic vents are covered by insulation—can lead to moist surroundings.
As far as damage is concerned, a roofing leak can cause moisture to accumulate in a specific location, which in turn can be responsible for soggy insulation. Animals in the attic can also lead to similar problems by creating holes that let snow in, which then melts. According to Real Homes, you also should avoid overfilling your attic with stored items, as this can impede moisture flow.
When Should I Call a Roofing Contractor?
If you can discern the cause of the moisture, and it’s damage, drop your leaking roof repair pro a line. Moisture is far too dangerous of a problem to try to fix on your own, as doing it wrong can mean the door stays open for potential mold infestations.
If you’ve noticed problems with your home’s internal temperature, or you regularly deal with ice dams, these too can also be signs that a contractor needs to be called. Frost formation, while not always indicative of a poorly ventilated attic, also warrants professional attention.
What to Do in the Meantime
If you notice roofing vents that have been covered, there’s no harm in moving the insulation away to permit airflow, provided you know it’s safe to handle. In addition, according to the EPA, exhaust fans shouldn’t be used to vent moisture into the attic—so look into that as a source of the problem. Finally, you can always run a dehumidifier up there if the situation is severe.
The contractor whom you hire can also give you situation-specific advice.
Haggerty Windows & Siding: Five-Star Local Roof Repair Contractors
Looking to dry up your attic? We’ve got the roofing expertise to make sure the moisture stays gone for good. Reach our Urbandale office today at 515-953-6999.