January 26th, 2018 8:27 PM by Dan Howard
The crazy cold weather sweeping the nation is making mold a problem from top to bottom in many homes that have never had a mold problem before. Your home may be one of those homes, and you may not know it…..yet. This is especially true in homes with high efficiency construction and improvements.
The mold in attics and crawlspaces is the sneaky mold that comes from cold weather. Warm air in the living areas of the home holds a lot of moisture. When that warm, moist air hits the attic or crawlspace, it condenses on the surfaces. That moisture freezes into layers of ice. The colder the weather and the longer the time of cold weather, the more ice builds up.
You would be amazed to look in a cold attic or crawlspace and see layers of ice on the nails and wood surfaces. When that ice melts, it can soak the wood creating the ideal conditions for the growth of mold that could go unnoticed for months. Black fuzzy mold could meet you when you finally poke you head into those areas. You could save heartache and expense by taking the time to check on those areas sooner than later.
What You Need to Know if You Have A Winter Ice Buildup in Your Attic or Crawlspace
The rapid thawing of the built-up ice can result is severe damage to a home. Use of evaporation techniques and equipment by a professional is the best way to minimize damage to a property from ice buildup. In cold temperature areas, commercial dehumidification equipment will not be effective. Adding heat too quickly can result in materials getting damaged from the ice becoming water. The secret trick of the professionals is that air movement causing evaporation from the iced area to the exterior is the best solution to minimize damage to the home.