Water and moisture in your attic may cause you headaches and expensive repairs. Mold may grow and endanger your health, and water may weaken the structural integrity of your home. The majority of the time, attic water damage is due to roof leakage. In other instances, it might be improper attic venting and insulating material or appliance failures. Here is the way to prevent roof leakage and water damage from ventilation, insulation, or appliances in your loft.
The best tip on how to prevent roof leakage would be to maintain it regularly:
A professional roofing contractor may check the roof integrity and place and repair lost shingles, warping, corrosion, or another problem, in time to prevent roof leakage.
Tips to Find and Fix a Roof Leakage
First, check the wood and insulation for signs of water damage, such as discoloration and mold growth. The region where the two roofs join at an angle is more prone to cracks and roof leaks, so make certain to inspect it as well.
Leaks are also common in the area around attic plumbing stacks. Another way to detect water leaks from the attic would be to inspect the brightly lighting canisters. Rust, corrosion, and stains around them indicate moisture coming in the loft and possible electrical risks.
If you see these signs, assess and fix these issues: worn moisture barriers, deteriorated pipe or shingles flashing, lost flashing, caps or shingles, or clogged gutters and downspouts. Read more tips to fix a roof leak.
Ventilate Your Attic
Besides learning how to prevent roof leakage, make sure your attic is properly ventilated. Without proper ventilation, the moisture from your loft increases. Possessing good attic ventilation is especially important in the winter months. That’s because, in winter, warm air rises to the ceiling, which enters the attic, and condenses on the cold surfaces of their loft. Condensation can’t escape unless your attic has sufficient ventilation.
Furthermore, make sure that your attic vents — soffit, ridge, and gable-mounted vents — openings are not obstructed by something like insulation. There are several ways to boost attic ventilation, so be sure to speak with a specialist.
Insulate Your Attic
Insulation plays an important role in controlling the temperature levels in your loft. Otherwise, ice dams may form on the edges of your roofing, potentially causing water damage.
Thus, ensure that your attic floor is properly insulated to help prevent warm air from entering the attic. Besides, make sure the insulation of heating system ducts will also be in great shape.
To check if your insulation is in good shape, ensure it’s thick, soft, and dry. If it feels moist and looks flat and thin, it is going to create high moisture conditions. Fix it immediately.
Vent Appliances to the Outside
A common mistake in homes is improper venting of appliances. The dryer, kitchen, and bathroom vents should always blow the atmosphere to the outside and not in the loft. Your attic ventilation may not be able to eliminate the accumulated moisture economically.
Maintain Attic Appliances
Be aware that appliances from your attic such as air conditioners, swamp coolers, and HVAC systems may fail and cause water damage. Throughout your loft review, assess these appliances for wear and tear and lose links. Visit water damage Lansdale for more information.
Now you know how to prevent roof leakage and attic water damage, learn how to avoid different types of water damage in your home. As ventilation is essential in the whole house, check out more house ventilation tips and how to control the humidity in your home. For water removal solutions, flood cleanup, and mold cleaning services, contact your local PuroClean office.