How to Prevent Water Damage in Your Attic

Moisture and water accumulating in your attic can cause you serious headaches and expensive repairs. If mold forms in your attic it can compromise the air quality in the rest of the house as well as threaten the integrity of your home’s structure. To stop serious water damage, you should understand what causes the moisture to accumulate in your attic in the first place such as: a leaky roof, poor ventilation and insulation, and appliance failure.

Let’s see how to avoid and correct the above mentioned issues that can lead to serious problems.

Look for Leaks

It is important to identify leaks in your attic to prevent serious water damage.Check the insulation and wood for signs of water damage.This can include mold and discoloration. The areas of the roof where two surfaces join at an angle are prone to leaks and cracks. This is also true of areas around plumbing stacks.

Ventilate Your Attic

Moisture can easily build up in an attic without proper ventilation. As the warm air from your home rises to the attic, water condenses on the previously cold surfaces. This leads to an excess of moisture that cannot escape without proper ventilation. As expected, this is especially true during winter when the heat of the home is more intense and the cold of the outside is stronger as well.

There are many ways to increase ventilation of your attic, so you should consult a specialist.

Some other ways of reducing moisture in your attic are as follows:

• Vent your appliances to the outside, not into the attic
• Properly maintain attic appliances such as HVAC systems

If you have any further questions regarding water damage, feel free to give us a call today!