Humidity can create a ton of problems in your attic. Excess moisture activates mold growth and can raise your risk of rodent problems, but even that’s just scratching the surface.

To avoid these dangers and more, you should have some idea of how you keep your attic’s moisture level in check. Read on to learn how to dehumidify an attic space – and why you’ll probably want to let the pros handle this work.

Why is Attic Moisture a Problem?

Uncontrolled moisture levels in your attic can cause:

  • Mold growth. Mold thrives in damp environments, which definitely includes attics with moisture problems. Just ask the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has said exposure to mold can result in symptoms like stuffed-up noses and skin rashes. People with asthma or mold allergies can suffer from worse reactions.
  • Less effective insulation. Even if your insulation doesn’t have mold, moisture can still cause trouble. Damp insulation is worse at its job than dry material, so you won’t be able to save much on energy costs.
  • Rotting wood. There’s a good chance that wood facing moisture exposure will eventually rot. In a worst-case scenario, rotting joists/rafters could cause your roof to collapse.
  • Rust problems. Moisture in your attic will damage metal parts like screws and nails, too. Once these components corrode, your roof might not be structurally sound.
  • A higher infestation risk. Rodents and other animals count on water to survive. Because of that, they’re more than willing to take up residence in attics with moisture issues.

Common Sources of Moisture in Attics

Wondering where attic moisture comes from? Some contributing factors include:

Condensation

Attic condensation is all too common in the winter and spring months. Since heat naturally rises, warm air from lower levels of your house will go up into your attic. There, it will make contact with the bottom of your much colder roof, resulting in condensation.

Exhaust Problems

Ideally, your home’s bathroom and dryer exhausts should be routed to the outside world. But in your case, these vents might lead to your attic. The humid air from these vents will worsen your condensation issues.

Insufficient Insulation

When it’s working properly, insulation slows the flow of heat from one place to another. Insulation that can’t act as a thermal barrier between your roof and the warm air in your attic can add to attic condensation problems.

Roof and Pipe Leaks

Along with condensation, you’ll need to watch out for roof and pipe leaks. These leaks cause water damage and increase attic humidity levels. If a leak springs in your attic, get help from the experts right away.

What Signs of Moisture Should You Look Out For?

Sometimes, it’s obvious that your attic is dealing with moisture issues…but that’s not always the case. Whenever you go into your attic, keep an eye out for:

  • Visible mold and mildew
  • Frost (during the winter)
  • Damp insulation
  • Rust
  • Dark wall stains
  • Unusual odors

Dehumidifying Your Attic: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you notice any of the red flags listed above, you can’t wait any longer to deal with your moisture problem. Because of that, every homeowner should know how to dehumidify an attic. In pursuit of this goal, you’ll need to:

1. Thoroughly Inspect Your Attic

Before doing moisture remediation work in your attic, be sure you know exactly what your situation is. Look for any signs of moisture you can find and gauge your attic’s humidity level with a moisture meter.

2. Make Ventilation Improvements

Does your attic have ventilation? If it doesn’t, you’ll need to install vents to give humid air somewhere to go. Even if your attic has vents, you should take a look so you’ll know they’re functional and unblocked.

3. Seal Any Leaks You Find

Next, go through your attic and look out for large cracks and smaller gaps. If you find leaks, block them with caulk or weatherstripping.

4. Inspect Your Insulation

Since insulation can affect your attic’s moisture level, you’ll want to check your insulation while doing this work. If your insulation is damaged or old, make plans to replace this material ASAP.

5. Put In a Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier can work along with your insulation and vents to control humidity. Once your dehumidifier is in place, set it to keep your attic humidity level between 30% and 50%.

6. Keep an Eye on Your Attic

After you’ve taken these steps, don’t assume everything will keep going according to plan. Instead, check your attic’s moisture level regularly and make tweaks to your moisture control strategy for consistent good results.

Installing the Right Dehumidifier for Your Attic

Are you thinking about getting an attic dehumidifier? If so, you should definitely buy a product designed with these spaces in mind.

The dehumidifier you pick up needs to be powerful enough to cover your entire attic. On top of that, it should offer features like:

  • Continuous drainage
  • Automatic shutoff
  • A humidistat

If you’re putting in a dehumidifier by yourself, clean out a spot in your attic with enough airflow for this product. Follow the instructions while setting this device up, configure its drainage, and hook it up to a power source. Once it’s ready to go, test your dehumidifier for a few hours to see that it’s functioning correctly.

How Can a Professional Crew Help?

The steps listed above might sound simple, but they can be much tougher than you’d expect in practice. Even a “simple” moisture control task like replacing insulation takes time to finish, and you could suffer from health problems if you don’t have good safety gear.

As a result, you’ll be much better off hiring a team of attic experts to mitigate your moisture issues. These workers know attics inside and out, so they won’t struggle to improve insulation and fix leaks. You’ll get highly effective moisture remediation while spending less time and effort than you would trying to solve this problem by yourself.

Finding the Best Company for Attic Moisture Control

Even if you know how to dehumidify an attic, there’s a good chance you’ll want to find local professionals for this job. And since there are so many businesses in this niche, narrowing down your options might sound like a huge undertaking in its own right.

Attic Projects makes this choice easy with competitive pricing, as well as an in-house team and 10-year warranty protection. Instead of waiting around and letting your moisture problem get worse, contact us today to start fighting back against attic humidity!