Attic Mold Soffit Vents

Nope venting an attic is actually pretty hard here s how ventilation is supposed to work.

Attic mold soffit vents.

One house can suffer from major mold growth while the neighbor s home is spotless. Almost all homes are fitted with some kind of roof vents at the peak of the roofline be it individual roof vents hip roof ventilation and many homes have gable vents as well. Air flows in through the soffit vents and out through the roof vents. If you see dampness or frost you need better roof ventilation and some attic vents.

Few areas of mold growth are more mysterious and confusing than soffit mold growth. As a certified licensed home inspector it is not correct to say too much ventilation is bad for an attic unless rain moisture is getting in. Plus roofing and attic ventilation systems can protect homes from the expensive roof and structural damage caused by trapped heat ice dams moisture and mold. This article series xplains the effects on buildings caused by locked soffit intake vents and we explain how blocked soffit venting causes or contributes to attic condensation moisture and potential mold contamination problems in buildings.

And many homes with terrible attic ventilation are completely mold free. A home s ventilation system consists of everything from roof vents to the best attic fans without the right roofing and attic ventilation system your home can become uncomfortable and cost more to cool or heat. Unlike growth in other areas of a home soffit growth does not appear to follow any reliable pattern. The photograph at left shows severe mold on the underside of roof sheathing in a 1920 s cape cod attic where there was no under roof ventilation.

Moreover if you have asphalt shingles on the roof attic. How to check attic ventilation. To avoid rotting wood clumping insulation and mold your attic needs to be properly ventilated. Questions answers about the impact of blocked soffit vents on building roof cavity or attic moisture condensation ice dam leaks mold.

The most common cause of attic mold by far is blocked or insufficient ventilation of the attic space. Attic ventilation is a two part process. Venting a homes attic is a very important best building practices will say 50 at the ridge and 50 at the soffits unobstructed. Grab a flashlight and inspect your attic during the winter.

A soffit vent is simply a vent installed into the underside of your home s eaves called the soffit that permits fresh outside air to be drawn up into the attic. First air enters through the soffit vents. Yet many attics with ventilation far superior to the code requirements suffer from mold issues. Vents come in various styles.