How Attic Mold Compromises Home Energy Efficiency

Mold problems can start anywhere in your home, but one of the most common things we do at MoldTech is attic mold removal. Mold growth is extremely prevalent in Southern Ontario for a number of complex and interwoven reasons - some where mold is the cause of the problem and some where it is the symptom of bigger problems. One of the most costly ways that mold affects our households is in energy efficiency. With the colder months upon us and rising heating costs top of mind for many of us, we’re going to look into how attic mold compromises home energy efficiency and what you can do to stop it. 

What is Mold and Why Does it Grow in the Attic? 

Mold is a fungus that is found all around the world - it’s an important part of the ecosystem and helps organic matter to break down. In nature, mold is and effective and ruthless part of the circle of life - in our homes this process isn’t quite as welcome, especially when it comes to the costly renovations, upgrades, and structure that keeps you and your family safe. 

Mold needs three ingredients to thrive: a stable temperature, an organic material, and moisture. Many attics in Southern Ontario unfortunately provide all three in abundance. While most of us don’t consider the attic part of our living space, it is, in effect, one of the largest rooms in our homes. But unlike the other rooms, the attic acts like a buffer between the exterior and interior parts of our home. 

There can be many different reasons why an attic can become moldy, such as: 

• temperature fluctuations due to air leakage or insufficient insulation
• old or damaged insulation
• animal or insect infestation
• damage to shingles or roofing materials
• overhanging trees
• blocked soffits
• exhaust fans
• condensation from pipes

Attic Mold Can Make Attic Insulation Less Effective

Attic mold removal is an important part of keeping your attic - and whole home - healthy. Mold can easily spread from room to room in your home and can have negative effects on you and your family’s health and wellness, as well as the structural integrity and safety of your home. We’ve talked in the past about how mold affects your lungs and what exposure symptoms may look like, but mold also affects the health of your home, and one of the biggest ways it does this is energy efficiency. 

We’ve often compared the home to an ecosystem, because it’s very similar  - and we all know that when one thing is damaged, missing, or off in the environment, problems will arise elsewhere. When there is mold growing in the attic, one of the primary effects it has is on home energy efficiency. Depending on the type of insulation you have, mold can affect its efficiency in a number of different ways, from causing it to degrade to collecting and holding moisture. 

Damaged Insulation Doesn’t Work

Once your insulation is affected by mold, it’s no longer able to do its job. A leaky attic will cause heated or cooled air to drain into the attic, where it can exacerbate mold growth and speed up problems with your insulation. But when it comes to efficiency, the real problems aren’t in the attic, they’re with your furnace. Air leakage means that your furnace needs to work twice as hard to keep your home at the temperature set on your thermostat. If it’s working twice as hard all winter long because of moldy insulation, it’s going to result in a huge home heating bill at the end of each month - not to mention more repairs and a shorter lifespan.

MoldTech are Experts in Attic Mold Removal

As we grow more aware of the importance of energy efficiency, it makes sense for both your pocketbook and the planet to be more aware of how we use our resources. Mold growth in the attic has a huge affect on how well your home HVAC system works and how efficient your home is. When it comes to keeping your home healthy, a mold-free attic should be is a key part of your home maintenance plan. 

If you are unsure whether or not mold is affecting your attic, give us a call! With over a decade of experience working with mold infestations in homes, attics, basements, crawlspaces and other rooms in the house, the technicians at MoldTech have the experience, knowledge and tools to safely and efficiently remove attic mold. For more information on attic mold removal and what we can do to help, give us a call at 1-866-684-7684 or visit our website at www.moldtech.ca .