How to stop mildew growing in attic area?
by
Alice Murphy
+5
I discovered mildew growing in my attic area few days back. I was told to ventilate the attic in a better way. So, I installed a ridge vent and now the condition is much worse. The mildew growth didn't stop. Please suggest some ideas to deal with this condition.
8 answers
-
You may have gaps, or leaks somewhere. Also you need to remove anything you store up there and clean all the mold from it. You rafters prolly have mold on them so you need to clean them with bleach water. If theres something that the bleach would damage, then use full strength vinigar. If you dont clean out whats there it will come back..
Patti Wood
on Mar 09, 2015
-
I agree, first get rid of all the mold with bleach water.If you don't get rid of the mold, it will continue to grow, even if the conditions in your attic have improved. Is the area above a bathroom? If so, the bathroom may need to be vented so the moisture does not rise up into the ceiling. And make sure your baths are not vented into the attic. They should be vented outside. You can also add a rooftop fan (we installed a solar one) to help get the moist air out of the attic. If your house is moist, it may be rising up into the attic. Run a dehumidifier in the house to keep the moisture level down. Seal all of the areas in the attic where air rises into it. I used spray foam to seal around vents, pipes etc. Make sure your attic access has a good seal on it. Keeping air from the house out of the attic will help your energy bills too.
Diane Krumme
on Mar 09, 2015
-
How did it get there is the question I would be asking...you need to stop this at the source and then figure out how to get the mold out....
Tina C
on Mar 09, 2015
-
I'd put a portable dehumidifier in the space to help stop the moisture. But it will be a pain emptying the catch bin. How close is the nearest bathroom?
Lisa Kaplan Gordon
on Mar 09, 2015
-
First off did you actually have someone install a continuous ridge vent in your home or was it merely the turbine or squared vents? Condensation forms when warm moist air meets cooler dryer air. If you've installed a continuous ridge vent there is no way you can control the humidity levels in an attic that's open to the atmosphere. It would be like trying to lower the outdoor humidity by placing a de-humidifier on your back porch. There's a good chance you have inadequate ceiling insulation. Warm air escaping the heated portion of your home enters your attic and meets the cooler portions and water condenses. Since you're in WV let me ask you this. When it snows does the snow on the roof seem to melt first or at least more quickly than snow on other things that have the same exposure to the sun? If so this indicates you have heat escaping the house and entering your attic. Warm air meeting cold air and you have the ideal mold growth situation. The answer although costly, is simple. You need more attic insulation.
D & K
on Mar 09, 2015
-
Good suggestions. There's warm air leaking up into the attic and condensing. Be careful about one of those whirly-bird fans. My friend's ended up with an attic full of ice and wet because it kept sucking warm air up in the winter. Had to replace ceilings and reinsulate..
Marion Nesbitt
on Mar 10, 2015
-
All good suggestions, do you have bathroom exhaust fans? If they exhaust into the attic, that's the problem..
Pete Wells
on Mar 10, 2015
-
Yes, snow on my roof melts very quickly. Sealing attic air leaks and then complete attic insulation can be the better solution to stop mould growth. I read this article to know more on it: http://www.brw.com.au/p/entrepreneurs/george_gregan_backs_fast_growing_vXo5VNHO43hXsfSi8iRmYP
Alice Murphy
on Mar 14, 2015
Sign Up to Answer
Related Discussions
Suggested Project Book
