What Causes Water Damage To Attic and How To Prevent It

Attics might not be as useful as living rooms when friends and relatives visit your home. But if it is used for storing your personal belongings, protecting it from water intrusions is vital.

Like the basement you have under your home, your attic is also one of the most common areas prone to water damage. Because attics are not regularly visited by its owner, water damage continues without interruption for some time. By the time it is noticed, water has already done extensive damage to your property such as saturating attic insulation, rotting wood including rafters and joints, mold growth, deteriorating ceiling and water intruding the living space beneath it.

What Causes Water Damage To Your Attic

Roofing Leaks

Roofing leaks can be a cause of several factors, for instance, lack of maintenance, poor construction, and storm damage. When the roofing system does not function properly in preventing water from entering the house, water damage to your attic will most likely happen.

However, pinpointing the roof leak might require a thorough inspection. Water travels distance from the point where it actually drips. That is why it is best to have a qualified roofing contractor to locate the area and repair the damage.

Leaky Plumbing Directed Through The Attic

Leakage from water supply lines, whether it be a small leak or a minor seepage, is highly undesirable. Aside from the consistent attic moisture, leaks can indicate pipe deterioration and if not treated in time, can lead to rupture causing the ceiling to sag and collapse and can cause water damage to the living spaces underneath it.

Quick response and fixes are needed for any sort of leaking pipes.

Consistent High Humidity

As the temperature gets warmer during the day, humid air is collected in a confined area, just like in an attic. When the area cools down at night, the air forms condensation. Condensation becomes a problem that results in mold growth, structural damage and wood rot.

To prevent this from reoccurring, you should open all the vents and make sure that they are free from objects such as insulation. 

 

Roof Ice Dams

Ice dams occur from the build-up of snow and ice, then form at the edge of the roof. As these ice dams are formed in hail, they block the gutter and prevent water to properly drain off the roof. As a result, the water that pools to the gutter backs up on the roofing system and leaks to the attic causing water damage to the attic itself, ceiling and even causing mold growth and content loss.

How To Prevent Water Damage To Your Attic

Taking some time to inspect your attic occasionally and following these tips can keep you from facing water damage to your attic.

• Check your roof. During heavy rains, water can see through broken shingles or leaky flashings. Make sure to fix any problem and repair any broken shingles.
• Prevent Pipes To Rupture. Some water supply lines are directed through your attic. If you notice any signs of leaky pipes, you should repair them before they get ruptured.
• Control Attic Condensation. Warm air from the living spaces can penetrate and gather in the attic. You can install ventilation vents to cool the air during summer (to prevent humidity) and warm it during winter (to decrease ice dams occurrence). Moreover, you should seal cracks, leaks and other openings in the ceiling to prevent water vapor to penetrate to your attic.
• Insulate the attic with appropriate insulation.
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Should You Be Concerned About Attic Mold?

Since the attic is a confined area that is composed of a high level of humidity and is not properly ventilated, it is an area of the home that provides a favorable condition for mold to grow.

But, should the occupants be concerned with mold growing in a confined area like an attic? Definitely, yes. Simply, because, mold in the attic does not stay in the area forever. Mold releases airborne spores that travel to other spaces of the home.

According to some studies, mold spores from active mold can migrate to confined areas that are constructed with just an ordinary or common residential method. This will allow mold to spread and grow in other parts of the home.

Moreover, contaminated air can be formed in the attic due to mold growth. The colder air that travels naturally to the lower levels of the home causes the contaminated air to leave the attic through tiny holes and gaps. This can cause allergic reactions and illnesses to people who are vulnerable to mold.

Due to the factors that contribute to mold movement, it is important to prevent mold from growing in the attic.

Water damage is a serious condition that is associated with mold growth. For ordinary homeowners, these two are stressful and difficult to deal with. But, don’t worry. Our team is here to help you. We are experts in dealing with water damage restoration problems and mold growth. We will assure you to bring your home back to its inhabitable condition. If you have any questions about water damage and mold growth, please call us today.