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!

Evergreen did a fantastic job replacing 28 windows in our house. They were friendly, courteous, and very detail oriented. Brian did a great job planning, estimating and executing the project. Our energy use has dropped significantly since the work was done.

Alex B.

Kittery

Evergreen came back this year to finish insulating our house. We have been remodeling and renovating an 1850s cape for several years. Their employees are very professional and pleasant to deal with. Over several years Brian Robinson has been able to schedule us in for several small areas that needed addressing and finally turning a room we used to close off in the winter into a comfortable usable space. We primarily heat with wood and since Evergreens great work our furnace has only come on ONCE this winter. Fantastic. Really satisfied customer in Thomaston.

Chris F.

Thomaston

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

Jacob Watson

I waited a year to write this review. Evergreen finished our job late last winter. Terrific results!!! we've gone from 12-day propane deliveries to 30+ day propane deliveries. The house is noticeably warmer. The Evergreen crew was/is professional, prompt, thorough, scientific, gracious and immaculate with respect to keeping our house clean. Money well spent.

John E.

Boothbay

We are so pleased with the work the team from Evergreen Home Performance did in our home. The project included encapsulation of our basement with a reinforced vapor barrier, installation of a sump pump, spray foam insulation on the walls and insulation of the heating duct work. Everyone at Evergreen was friendly and professional. The project was completed on time and in budget. Our home is much cozier and warmer since the project was completed.

Linda Metzger

Several years ago Brian Robinson evaluated the crawl space at my summer home on Islesboro where I knew moisture was becoming a problem. I had done quite a bit of work in the space many years prior with mixed results. When Brian offered some suggestions, they were ideas that incorporated work previously done, and would be a relatively low cost effort to improve the situation. He offered this advice over several phone conversations of some length, informally, and at no charge.

Cliff R.

Islesboro

I was extremely pleased with the professionalism and quality of service that I received from the Evergreen team. I met Richard to discuss options for insulation. I knew immediately that I wanted to do business with them because he did not try to over-sell extra services that I did not need. Dave was the project manager. He was not only kind, but very respectful of my home. I would highly recommend this company.

Darlyann M

Bath

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

We had Evergreen energy do blow-in cellulose. I was very happy with the result. They tested with blower-door before and after. House is now MUCH warmer. Also, in the time since when I've had to open walls for various access, I've been impressed with how they got the insulation packed in everywhere. I'd use them again.

Noah

Peaks Island

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

This team of individuals was professional at all times. They set up barriers that kept the dust at a minimum. They conducted an air flow audit and cut the draft circulation from the outside in half by sealing cracks. They hauled out the old insulation and replaced it with blown in insulation with an R - 60 Value. They also did the rebate paperwork so that I could get my $1500.00 rebate from the state of Maine. I highly recommend Evergreen Home Performance!

Daniel B.

Rockland

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

Evergreen came out 2 years ago to do an assessment and insulate our roof. This year we had them come back and do the basement as well. They are hands-down the best crew we've ever hired to work on our house. They are experts at what they do, and super meticulous in their work. After working in our house for a week with blown insulation, there was no trace they were ever here. We've seen a huge decrease in our energy bills while at the same time the house has become way more comfortable. Can't recommend them enough.

RC Lations II

Portland

Very Satisfied with the work performed by Evergreen. Professional employees, high quality work done in a timely manner. My sales rep was Justin, and he was phenomenal During the initial walk around my house, he gave me great ideas for how to improve the efficiency of our home. We will consult with Evergreen for our future home projects.

Adam G.

Westbrook

Great job installing windows and insulation.

Bob S.

Rockland

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