Is Attic Mold Making You Sick?
As families get back into the swing of school, many of our little people are going to start coming home with more than just homework. Cold and flu season is coming, but if your family already feels under the weather or never seems to get rid of that cough, it could be because you need attic mold removal. At MoldTech, we’ve helped thousands of families with persistent coughing, sneezing, and stuffiness that lasts beyond the duration of the common virus. Mold testing is one of the safest ways to determine if your attic has a hidden mold infestation causing flu-like symptoms.
Why Mold Grows in the Attic
There are many reasons why mold grows in the attic. For most homes in the GTA, the attic is mainly unused and inaccessible, a small and dark space full of insulation that protects our homes from the weather.
While these conditions mean we don’t use it, the attic is a living, active space just like the rest of the house. It needs good airflow, the right amount of insulation, and to remain dry and blocked from pests or weather, just like your living room or kitchen. When these conditions change, attic mold can take root and become a big problem.
The leading cause of attic mold is moisture and poor airflow. This can happen for several reasons, such as warm air leaks from your living space, insulation shifts, broken vents, or roof damage. Once moisture enters your attic, it can trigger dormant mold spores to grow.
What Symptoms Does Attic Mold Cause?
Many mold infestations that the MoldTech team treats have subtle symptoms and no visual evidence, and the attic’s small and dark location doesn’t make it any easier for the average homeowner to take a look around. This is where professional mold testing is a huge help when you’re experiencing strange symptoms or effects.
Some of the most common physical symptoms homeowners report include:
- Sneezing, dripping nose, or unexplained congestion.
- Itchy, watery, or dry eyes.
- Headaches and a feeling of fuzziness.
- Coughing or wheezing.
- Dry skin, or chronic condition flare-ups.
But that’s not all — mold can make your house appear sick too, with effects like:
- Staining or discolouration on walls or floors.
- High heating and cooling bills.
- A musty odour.
- Peeling wallpaper or paint.
- High indoor humidity.
- Drafts or hot/cold spots.
What is Attic Mold Testing?
If these signs and symptoms sound familiar, mold testing can help you assess your home for hidden infestations. Beyond the attic, mold can grow in every room of the house in cupboards, closets, under flooring, behind appliances, or in the walls. At MoldTech, our mold testing protocol is to look at the whole home, not just the attic, so we can determine what areas are affected, uncover the number of and location of infestations, and what elements or aspects of your home may encourage these infestations.
We generally start by looking at the exterior of your home — many attic mold infestations start after storms that cause roof damage. Low-hanging trees, bushes growing close to the home, and geographic features can also affect the airflow that your home needs to stay dry.
Next, we’ll do a visual and physical home inspection, looking for the tell-tale signs of mold growth and taking air or physical samples as needed. We have a host of professional tools and methodologies that allow us to take readings and tests without disturbing or damaging your home.
These results are sent out to a lab for analysis, which can positively identify the presence, type, and amount of mold. This information is often helpful when it comes to developing an attic mold removal plan — together with our observations and readings, we’ll ensure that the cause of your infestation is identified so that you can make necessary changes to prevent it from returning in the future.
MoldTech’s Attic Mold Removal Services
MoldTech has been helping Ontarians with attic mold removal for over a decade, and we’ve seen it all. No job is too big or too tricky for our team to handle with safety, professionalism, and cleanliness. Mold symptoms may not sound serious, but they can make daily life uncomfortable and increase the risks of chronic health conditions like asthma. Over the long term, mold will begin damaging your home’s structure and safety, leading to expensive repairs. If you have concerns, book your mold test with MoldTech today by calling or emailing our team for more information.
