Ice Dam Aftermath: The Facts about Mold!
Ice Dams Cause Toxic Mold In Homes!
The goal of Valor Mold is to inform and educate consumers in the Washington DC area.
In a previous article we listed 25 winter mold prevention tips.
The purpose of this article is to explain how to prevent ice dams which are caused by the accumulation of ice and snow on your roof. The core problem with ice dams is they can lead to mold concerns.
Ice Dam Causes!
Ice dams are caused by the escape of heat into the attic which eventually builds up and melts snow on the roof.
The ice dam is the ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof which prevents melting snow from draining as it should.
Water that backs up behind the ice dam can leak into the home and cause damage to walls, floors, ceilings, insulation, and other areas. This graphic, courtesy of the Ice Dam Company, provides you with visual warning signs to look for.
Reasons Ice Dams Cause Mold!
The key problem caused by ice dams is the water and moisture that leaks into the home.
Mold thrives on moisture and grows because it feeds on the materials that most homes are made of: wood, drywall, wallpaper, carpet, ceiling tiles, etc. The final component required for mold growth is a temperature of 41 degrees to 100.4 degrees fahrenheit. As long as these three ingredients are present, mold will form and continue to grow provided it has food to feed on. This is the reason that the structural integrity of a home is compromised; mold is essentially feeding on the home.
Ice dams are caused by heat escaping into the attic.
Temperature is one of the key ingredients required for mold growth.
Heat in the attic, which leads to ice dams, is caused by everyday activities in the household, such as cooking, laundry, showering, washing dishes, etc. Normally, these activities should not cause problems, ie. excessive condensation and heat in the attic.
However, problems will occur if the attic is not properly insulated.
One of the major causes of condensation in the attic is the lack of proper ventilation in the kitchen and bathroom required to vent vapour out of the home.
Another major reason excess heat may build up in the attic is a direct result of builder negligence that vent bathroom and dryer vents into attics, crawl spaces, or over hangs, and not onto the roof. This poor building practice will cause problems because moisture and heat will build up in the attic.
Ice Dam Prevention Tips
- Make sure you have proper ventilation in the attic. Keep your soffit vent clear and open. Have a roofing professional check your roof and calculate the proper ventilation requirements. A well ventilated cold roof prevents ice dams.
- If you have gutters on the house – keep them clean and free from leaf debris.
- Ensure that your bathroom exhaust is vented through the roof and insulated if necessary.
- Ductwork in the attic should be well insulated and sealed from leaks.
- Air bypass – where warm air leaks through small cracks and openings – should be sealed. Check attic access ports in closets and can lights in the ceiling as potential areas of concern.
Six Clues You Have Attic Condensation Issues!
- Check your attic for visual mold.
- Check all penetrations in your ceilings such as light fixtures and make sure there is no excessive gaps between the fixtures and ceiling.
- Make certain all drywall is finished properly with no gaps or cracks for moisture to migrate through.
- Look for visible stains such as mold on the surfaces of the ceiling, walls of the living areas, floors, carpets, attic plywood sheathing, attic sidewalls, floor joist, wet insulation.
- Check for moisture or high relative humidity over 65% and higher.
- Smelling unusual musty or moldy odors is an indication that you may have a problem. High relative humidity or moisture may be the culprit.
Got Ice Dam or Mold Questions
If you think you may have mold or indoor air quality concerns, call the professionals at Valor Mold. Call us, 703-897-7121, or send us an e-mail.
Cause and Prevention Summary of Ice Dams
Ice Dam Aftermath: The Facts about Mold! https://t.co/b47TjkHVNe #WashingtonDC This article explains what causes an ice dam, the potential #mold concerns it causes, and how to prevent #icedams. PLEASE RETWEET pic.twitter.com/hbMC1V5d27
— Valor Mold (@ValorMold) February 20, 2020