Attic Humidity Levels Mold

Indoor relative humidity rh should be kept below 60 percent ideally between 30 percent and 50 percent if possible.

Attic humidity levels mold.

Jason advani jason advani thought he was on the right track when he insulated the bottom of the roof deck in his walk up attic with closed cell spray foam. If water is running down the window or objects seem wet to the touch then the humidity is far too high. Low humidity may also discourage pests such as cockroaches and dust mites. As planned the r 40 worth of insulation has drastically reduced his heating bill but now he faces another unexpected problem.

Proper ventilation will help maintaining a constant temperature in your attic. Absolute humidity is relative to air temperature. The dynamic relationship between temperature and humidity is why it can be confusing and why people need a chart or app for that. To prevent mold from growing in your attic do the following.

High humidity in a space like an attic can lead to mold and a spill in a carpeted area of your home that isn t quickly taken care of can also lead to mold under the carpet. Mold in a house is caused by humidity and dampness. If there is excessive moisture accumulation in your attic it will condense on cold areas mainly on the underside of your roof deck. When it exceeds that threshold by too much and for too long you could experience problems like mold growth.

If you ve got a spray foamed attic and you ve got high humidity here s how to fix it for good. Humidity settings are another issue that can make or break the performance of your heating and cooling systems and your attic ventilation. Keep humidity levels as low as you can between 30 and 50 all day long. During the winter months the recommended relative humidity inside a house is anywhere between 30 50 percent.

During the spring summer and fall relative humidity rh in a spray foamed attic often exceeds the comfort threshold of 60. High humidity means greater chances for mold to grow. Sometimes humidity or dampness water vapor in the air can supply enough moisture for mold growth. At a cooler 70 degrees fahrenheit a more humid 66 rh is still no risk for mold.

An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the level low. Bear in mind that humidity levels change over the course of a day with changes in the moisture in the air and the air temperature so you will need to check the humidity levels more than once a day. By scott gibson march 18 2019. Jason advani has insulated his attic with spray polyurethane foam and while his heating bills have dropped high humidity remains a problem.

While damp and warm climates are a prime breeding ground for our fuzzy friend other conditions that bring mold include lack of ventilation and proper sheathing. You can check the humidity level by observing the windows and the objects in the attic.