Moisture In Attic In Summer

It s important to keep an eye on attic moisture and temperature if you believe you have a potential problem with mold.

Moisture in attic in summer.

You want to avoid ice buildup or condensation that could lead to structural problems in your attic. As a general rule the lower the outdoor temperature the lower the recommended humidity setting. Condensation on your ceiling can cause water damage and promote the growth of mold or mildew. Step 1 check for excessive heat.

This is ok unless again you have breeches into your living quarters that allow your air cooled by your air conditioner to come into your attic. The main goal is to keep your attic temperature the same as the outside air temperature in the summer as well as in winter. Well the same principles apply here except that your roof may be the side that is warmer in the summer. In an attic like this wintertime ceiling condensation can form when cold air from the attic hits your warm ceiling.

Lower attic air relative humidity due to sensible heat gain by solar higher air relative humidity at the surface of wood framing materials resulting in moisture being desorbed by the attic. Why is that important. In summer when the air conditioning is on the reverse happens. Extra heat build up under the roof deck can cause your shingles to deteriorate much faster sometimes cutting their life expectancy in half.

Advani is adding moisture to the air with a humidifier and that hot air rises finding ways of getting into the attic sullivan says. They keep your home cooler in the summer warmer in the winter and free from damage caused by moisture. The concern in summer is heat. Even the average person produces about 3 pints of water a day while breathing.

Air leaks in the lower part of the house in the basement for example allow outside air with low humidity to get into the house. These sources are generally not a huge contributor to excessive moisture in the house or attic unless the amount of moisture is unusually high the house is extremely tight or proper venting is not used. The most common cause of ceiling condensation is an attic with too little insulation and ventilation. Attic insulation and ventilation go hand in hand.

Attic air dew point temperature elevated above outdoors.