How to Prevent Mold in an Attic

Mold is more than just an unsightly growth on your walls. Mold in the attic can get into the ventilation system, making your home an unhealthy living environment, especially if someone in your home suffers from allergies. While mold can be removed, it's much easier to prevent it from showing up in the attic in the first place.

Things You'll Need

• Dehumidifier

Instructions

1. Make sure your attic is as well-ventilated as the rest of your house. While a dusty vent in the kitchen probably gets dealt with right away, it's easier to ignore a dusty vent in the attic. Once air is not flowing properly into a room, it becomes an ideal environment for mold to grow in. Opening an attic window can also help.

2. Make sure your attic insulation is working effectively. Good insulation can prevent mold growth. Hire a heating and cooling specialist to test your attic for its insulation rating. If it's lower than required for an attic, they will be able to replace it for you.

3. Keep water from accumulating in the attic. Find the source of the water, such as a leaky roof, and fix it immediately. Wipe any water away with a dry towel.

4. Run a dehumidifier in the attic. Humidity means that there's moisture in the air, which is going to cause mold. Empty the water from the dehumidifier on a regular basis so that it continues to work at its maximum level.

5. Don't keep things piled up in one spot in the attic. By keeping things spaced apart, especially backed away from walls that are prone to mold growth, you can be sure to spot mold before it becomes a serious problem. If you store so much stuff in one part of your attic that you can't even get to the wall, then you're not going to realize if mold starts to grow on the wall.

References

• Washington State Department of Health: Mold Control
• Attic Insulation