Should I Be Concerned About Moisture in My Attic?

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Every winter, Maine experiences weeks where the temperatures fluctuate between sunny days and bitter cold evenings. While it is nice for us Mainers to get a little respite from the frosty temperatures during the day, these temperature fluctuations may be wreaking havoc on your home. 

If you have noticed condensation, standing water, or frost accumulation in your attic at any point this year, here is what you need to know about how it might have gotten there, and the dangers of leaving this home performance issue unresolved. 

Why is there Moisture in Your Attic?

Though moisture can accumulate in your attic for a few different reasons, one of the most common causes of condensation in your attic is that your attic is under-insulated. Figuring out the exact cause of the moisture in your attic should be done with a thorough inspection.

Why is Attic Insulation Important?

When an attic is sufficiently insulated, heat won’t move as quickly between your indoor living space and the outdoors. In cooler months, insulation will prevent the heat from your living space from escaping up through the attic and out through the roof, keeping your indoor temperatures stable and reducing the amount of energy required to keep you comfortable. In the warmer months, insulation will also keep summer heat out and your conditioned air in. 

What Can Happen to Attic Insulation Over Time?

If batt or spray foam insulation is damaged, or if there wasn’t enough installed in the first place, or if warm conditioned air from your living space meets the cold temperatures and forms condensation in your attic, your insulation will lose much of its effectiveness. This can be made worse if there is also a lot of air leakage in the attic, which allows for more air (and additional moisture) to infiltrate the space. 

Is Attic Moisture Bad if Left Unchecked?

Yes, moisture is bad when left unchecked for a few reasons. Excess moisture leads to a mold problem, which can pose a threat to the structure of your home as well as your health. Plus, moisture will damage any remaining insulation in your attic, making the problem even worse in a short period of time. 

Have you noticed any of the following symptoms in your home?

  • A musty or moldy smell

  • Visible mold growth

  • Frost in your attic

  • Wet wood or standing water accumulation

These signs could indicate that there has been a moisture issue in your home for a while, and it is time to solve the problem before it gets worse.

The Next Step: Schedule a Free Consult

In order to develop a customized plan for reducing the moisture in your attic (and in your home overall), a trusted home insulation contractor like Evergreen Home Performance should perform a free energy consult.

 This comprehensive analysis uses thermal imaging & diagnostics to help see exactly where the lapses in your insulation are, how many air leaks are present throughout your entire home, and whether you would benefit from added measures like attic air sealing & ventilation. Your free consult will increase the effectiveness of your home improvement project and will make you and your family more comfortable!

Get the water, mold, and moisture out of your attic for good when you Evergreen your home! Call Evergreen today to schedule your energy audit. 207-594-2244 or get in touch here.

Seeing frost in your attic?

Keep it out for the sake of your health and comfort!

We just finished a large project of air sealing and reinsulating our 1890s basement and attic which had been completely renovated 8 years ago but still felt cold and lacked proper energy assessment and corrections. We met with Justin in December and were very impressed with his knowledge, professionalism and communication skills and knew Evergreen was who we wanted to work with. Dave was our on hands project manager and was excellent. The office staff has been quick to respond and helpful as well when needed.

Emily Gallant

We just finished a large project air sealing and reinsulating our 1890s basement and attic. It had been completely renovated 8 years ago, but still felt cold, and lacked proper energy assessment and corrections. We met with Justin in December and were very impressed with his knowledge, professionalism and communication skills and knew Evergreen was who we wanted to work with. Dave was our on hands project manager and was excellent. The office staff has been quick to respond and helpful as well when needed.

E Gallant

Kennebunk

Evergreen did an amazing job insulating our historic home. Their professional staff worked hard to ensure the tough areas in the attic were covered, and clearly communicated their progress. We are seeing the results with our discounted heating bills. Thank you, Evergreen!

Melissa Knoll

Portland

Evergreen was so helpful in securing us Efficiency Maine funding for a big attic insulation project early this winter. They did all of the paperwork, and totally guided us through a vermiculite removal process that included a payment from a trust for the procedure. I could instantly feel the second floor being so much warmer than before. The boiler does not kick on nearly as frequently since they completed the job. It was worth every penny! Brian Robinson was so thorough throughout the whole process including a full walk through after the job had been completed.

Todd W.

Camden

The Evergreen team was amazing from initial assessment and planning to the crew that came to complete the work. Our basement encapsulation is the best money we've spent on our house by far. The work was thorough and high quality. And what a wonderful group of people to work with. I highly recommend Evergreen!

Martha Bracy

Working with Brian and with Nate and the rest of the crew was a pleasure. They made everything very easy and understandable. This was a major renovation and they were always at the ready with a lot of information. We had an extensive renovation on the basement which was a dirt basement and it came out beautifully. We can already tell from all of the insulation work what a difference it's made in sound and temperature. Brian worked with me on the rebates that are available when you do this kind of work. I would highly recommend this company to…

Valerie L.

Rockland

Update 12/2018: Evergreen has completed Phase II of my house (insulating and installing air/moisture barrier on exterior walls, replacing old windows) and now that heating season is upon us, the difference is astonishing. The house is tight as a drum and so easy to keep warm. Worth every penny. Thank you all! Working with Evergreen was a positive experience from start (no charge energy audit) to finish (a MUCH more comfortable home). Brian Robinson spent a lot of time with me on the audit, explaining clearly what he was finding in my ca.

Rebekah W.

Rockport

A thorough inspection of our (older) house and its energy needs. Competent and personable work crew.

Jacob Watson

Great team!

George S.

Bath

My husband and I bought a home on the water in Owls Head and decided to make the investment in Evergreen's recommendations for insulation. Brian Robinson spent 3 hours examining every nook and cranny before he made practical suggestions and explained them thoroughly to us.

Marie McNeely

Owls Head

Bryan, Dave and the entire Evergreen team are wonderfully professional, prompt and thorough. I enjoyed working with them and look forward to continued work as we upgrade our home! Thank you so much for your professionalism, fairness, time and diligence.

Cait

Yarmouth

Evergreen is a terrific company to deal with. Polite and efficient crews, meeting deadlines and major reduction in our heat bills. They corrected a lot of issues we suffered from doing work with a shoddy building contractor. We would recommend them to anyone.

Mary Carey

Evergreen completed the work at my home thoroughly and professionally. An inspector from Efficiency Maine came to inspect afterwards and described it as "state of the art" and "outstanding". The crew was very pleasant and considerate during the project. Their cleanup each day was perfect. Communications with the office were easy and reliable. I am very satisfied.

Catherine H.

South Portland

I had gotten estimates from several other companies, but Evergreen was in another league entirely with their professionalism. If you want the job done correctly, I couldn't recommend this company enough.

Rayna Mayo

Freeport

I highly recommend Evergreen! 1st, I had a home efficiency inspection (that was free) & Bryan P. was great! He took the time needed, asked & listened to what I thought were priorities, explained clearly what he thought were priorities & why, then gave me numerous options. No pressure whatsoever. Then I had my attic sealed & insulated as the 1st step & Bryan came along on day 1 to introduce everyone & make sure we were all on the same page. Bruce's team (inc. Kelsey & Roland) did the work - they were exceptional!!

Melissa M.

Kennebunk

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