Bathrooms are one of the most common places homeowners notice mold because warm, moist air can linger after showers and baths. However, moisture problems are not limited to bathrooms. Mold can also form in attics, basements, around windows, behind siding, and near areas where water is not being properly directed away from the home.

If you have noticed mold growing in your bathroom or musty smells in other parts of your home, it is worth looking at the bigger picture. The sooner excess moisture is addressed, the easier it is to reduce the risk of mold growth and protect your home from more costly repairs.

1. Control Indoor Humidity

Indoor humidity should generally stay below 50%. When humidity levels are too high, condensation can form on windows, walls, and other surfaces. Over time, this moisture can create conditions where mold can grow.

Old windows, aging doors, and poor sealing can make humidity harder to control. If you notice condensation on your windows, drafts, or moisture near openings, it may be time to evaluate your home’s windows and doors.

Improving window performance and sealing air leaks can help regulate indoor humidity and reduce excess moisture. Learn more about common causes of drafty windows or explore our replacement window solutions.

2. Get And Maintain Gutters

Gutters play an important role in moving roof water away from your home’s foundation. Without a working gutter system, thousands of gallons of water can collect near your siding, basement, and foundation.

Clogged gutters can also overflow and send water behind siding or toward basement walls. This creates moisture problems that can lead to mold growth if left unaddressed.

Learn About The Issues Caused By Clogged Gutters:

3. Pay Attention To Your Attic

During the summer, high heat and trapped humidity can make an attic feel like a greenhouse. Without proper attic ventilation, moisture can collect and create conditions where mold can grow on insulation, roof decking, and framing.

If your attic feels excessively hot, smells musty, or shows signs of moisture, it is worth having the space inspected.

4. Check Where Exhaust Fans Vent

Bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans are designed to remove warm, moist air from your home. However, they need to vent completely outside.

If exhaust fans vent into the attic instead, that moisture can become trapped. Always run bathroom fans during and after showers and use kitchen ventilation while cooking.

Learn three ways to improve indoor air quality.

5. Inspect Your Basement

Basements are especially vulnerable to moisture problems. Foundation cracks, damp spots, and water stains can all be warning signs that water is finding a path inside.

Before spring rain saturates the soil around your home, inspect your basement walls and floors. If you notice cracks or moisture, a professional can help identify the source and recommend a plan to stop water intrusion.

Learn More From Andy Lindus About Mold Prevention:

Get Help Preventing Moisture Problems

Mold prevention starts with controlling moisture. Lindus Construction helps homeowners in Minnesota and Wisconsin evaluate problem areas including gutters, windows, doors, insulation, attic ventilation, and basement moisture concerns.

Contact us today to schedule an inspection and learn how to better protect your home.

Chilly Rooms & Floors

If exterior air can make its way into your home, it’s not long before floors become unbearably cold and rooms are much cooler than normal.  The rooms that are the most susceptible to lower winter temperatures are most often above the garage or right below the attic.

Go Behind the Scenes on a Recent Insulation and Ventilation Project:

Pricey Heating Bills

If your home energy bills skyrocket in the winter months, it’s a signal that your furnace is running more than it should.  Not only does this cost you more money, but it also puts unnecessary strain on your furnace, making it more likely that it will wear out faster than it should.

Ice Dams

An ice dam is a layer of ice that forms on a roof edge.  Rather than permitting the melting snow to exit the roof, the blanket of ice backs up onto the roof, below the shingles, into the soffits, and then into your home’s interior.  Inconsistent roof temperatures and lackluster insulation and ventilation are responsible for the formation of ice dams.

Frozen Pipes

If pipes within your home’s walls freeze in the winter, it’s a red flag that your insulation could be improved upon.  Proper levels of insulation on your home’s exterior walls ensure that pipes do not burst, causing thousands of dollars’ worth of damage.

Wet Attic Insulation

During the wintertime, the stack effect causes exterior air to be drawn in through crevices in your basement and then rechanneled up the walls of your home.  The air leaves your attic through unsealed areas, but not before creating frost due to the temperature variances.  As temperatures heat up, the frost liquifies, ruining your attic insulation and creating mold.  The process of attic air sealing in tandem with correct insulation levels will curtail air from escaping the home.

Cold Air Coming in Through Wall Outlets

When exterior air can filter indoors, air infiltration occurs.  A common spot air can leak through in older homes is through the light switches and wall outlets located on exterior walls.  When this occurs, it’s a sign more insulation is needed.

Contact us today to get started on your next home remodeling project.

Ice dams and icicles often get confused, but they are not the same thing. While icicles can be a normal winter occurrence, ice dams can cause serious damage if left untreated.

An ice dam is a layer of ice that forms near a roof’s edge and prevents melting snow from draining properly. Over time, an ice dam can cause water to back up beneath your shingles, eventually leaking into the interior of your home.

Many homeowners assume icicles always mean an ice dam has formed. That isn’t always true. Here’s how to tell the difference between icicles and ice dams — and when to take action.

Do Icicles Always Mean Ice Dams?

Like ice dams, icicles need cold temperatures, snow, and warmth to cause the snow to melt. Once the melted water comes in contact with the eave of the roof, the water again freezes. Icicles hanging from your roof can signal an ice dam. However, ice dams can be present without the existence of icicles.

Icicles that exist only on a home’s gutters without water trapped behind them are a normal winter occurrence, not a warning sign that an ice dam has formed. While icicles can prove problematic in high traffic areas, such as walkways, they often do not pose a significant threat to the exterior, your gutters, or the layers of your roof.

Ice Dams On Your Roof

The place an ice dam forms on your roof is dependent on its style and slope. Most often, they commence growth on the roof edge and begin to back up from there.

Two of the most telltale signs that your home has an active ice dam are if moisture is present in your attic or if there are damp areas on your home’s ceilings. If either of these occurrences are happening, it means that ice damming has compromised the membrane of your home’s roof.

However, there are less obvious signs of ice dams that homeowners often miss, allowing for substantial damage to occur. If there is an abundance of snow on the ground and on a porch roof, but minimal snow on the home’s main roof, it’s a signal that heat is escaping your attic because of subpar home insulation and ventilation.

A Temporary Solution For Ice Damming

Attempting to remove an ice dam through chipping away at the ice will only damage your shingles and likely void your roof’s warranty. Using roof salt pucks will also have negative impacts on your home.

The best way to remove an ice dam is through low pressure steaming. This technique utilizes tap water and brings it to 300 degrees. A technician then uses the steamer to heat up the ice so that it is no longer affixed to the roof. However, failing to address the core issue will only result in a roof needing to be frequently steamed to remove ever-present ice dams.

A Permanent Solution For Ice Dam Prevention

The underlying cause of an ice dam is inconsistent roof temperatures. Diagnosing the core issue should be done by a reputable contractor that is able to perform diagnostic testing such as a heat map analysis, blower door testing, and FLIR imaging.

These tools allow them to create a custom plan that considers your home’s need for additional insulation, ventilation, and attic air sealing. All of these solutions can help with ice dam prevention.

Here’s What You Need to Know About Blower Door Testing:

Frequently Asked Questions About Ice Dams

What Causes Ice Dams to Form?

Ice dams form when heat escapes from the attic and melts snow on the roof. As the water runs toward the colder roof edge, it refreezes and creates a dam that prevents proper drainage.

Are Icicles Always a Sign of an Ice Dam?

No. Icicles can form naturally when melting snow refreezes at the roof edge. While they can sometimes indicate an ice dam, icicles alone do not always mean there is a roofing problem.

Can Ice Dams Cause Water Damage Inside a Home?

Yes. Ice dams can force water underneath shingles and into the home, leading to damaged ceilings, walls, insulation, and attic spaces if left unaddressed.

If ice dams keep coming back, Lindus Construction can inspect your home and help stop them for good.

A few weeks ago, a homeowner called in and told us that he’d been requesting insulation estimates from multiple contractors.  One of the contractors the homeowner had reached out to had asked him to forward the other estimates he had so that he could bid off those, without ever having visited the home.  Suffice it to say, the homeowner was uninterested in continuing the conversation any further.

Here’s why it’s so important that your insulation contractor takes the time to visit your attic prior to showing up to complete the work.

Evaluation of Current Insulation

Having the ability to evaluate your home’s current insulation allows reputable contractors the ability to determine if it can be added to or must be removed and replaced.  They are trained to recognize insulation that has been damaged by moisture or animals that have made their way into your attic.  They also have the training to recognize insulation with the potential for asbestos and vermiculite.

Accurate Measurements

A key aspect that impacts the price of an insulation project is the square footage of the attic.  For those that don’t do this on a regular basis, this can be trickier than it sounds.  Attic areas are not always perfect squares.  The spacing between studs must also be considered.  Contractors also need to inspect for recessed lighting, chimneys, and combusting air inlets.  Botching any of these measurements can throw off the amount of insulation needed and cause the overall completed project price to vary from the original quote.

Material Suggestions

Without having eyes on the project, it can prove challenging for an insulation contractor to determine the best type(s) of insulation that should be used.  Visiting your home prior to the project also allows insulation contractors the ability to perform diagnostic testing with smoke sticks and FLIR imaging to determine all the areas where your home may be leaking energy.

Go Behind the Scenes on this Roof Insulation & Ventilation Project:

Inspecting Attic Ventilation

It’s critical that an insulation contractor evaluate the attic’s current air flow so that moisture can exit the attic without causing damage, such as mold.  Inadequate ventilation can cause attic temperatures to be unnecessarily hot in the summer which can cause your shingles to age prematurely.  Quality insulation contractors can also identify if your bathroom fan is blowing into the attic.  This situation proves problematic because moisture, mold, and odors are frequently the result.

Contact us today to get started on your next home insulation project.

An attic vent chute (also called a baffle) helps remove warm, moist air from your attic while allowing fresh air to enter through the soffits. Without proper vent chutes, insulation can block airflow and lead to moisture problems, higher energy bills, and ice dams.

Your Soffits are Clogged

Probably the number one indicator that you need chutes installed is if the soffits on your home continue to clog up with debris and insulation. Having attic chutes installed that go right over the soffits will allow air in, but keep debris away.

Signs of Mold

A common problem in attic spaces is the buildup of mold from water and condensation caused by warm air rising. If you notice mold along your roof deck, insulation, sheathing or any other area close to your attic, you probably need attic vent chutes installed.  Additionally, if your rafters, joists or house sheathing have darker spots where water has been sitting, it’s an indication that humid air is being trapped in your attic.

Without An Attic Vent Chute, Temperatures May Be Warmer

Do you find yourself saying, “It’s hot up here” when you are in or near your attic area or do you feel warm air rising from your below living space? A common cause of this is that insulation in between the roof deck and soffit has been moved by air flow coming through the vents. Having attic vent chutes installed will redirect this air flow.

Everything Looks Rusty

If you notice that the nails and screws used in your attic are rusted, attic vent chutes can remedy the situation by allowing humid air to escape.

Proper Attic Ventilation Will Offer Your Home:

1) Reduced cooling costs in the warmer months.

2) The prevention of ice dams in the winter months.

3) Extension of the life of your shingles avoiding premature aging of your roofing system

4) Prevention of mold & mildew growth due to moisture buildup.

5) You will avoid any warping or cracking of your wood framing

Learn more about home and attic ventilation.

Why We’re the Area’s Leading Insulation & Attic Air Sealing Contractor:

Vermiculite in Your Attic

Vermiculite insulation was often used in homes built before 1990. While it might seem fine, some vermiculite contains asbestos, which is dangerous. If your attic has vermiculite, you’ll need a professional to test it for asbestos before work can start. Asbestos insulation removal requires special tools. While removal of the asbestos in insulation adds to the cost, it’s necessary for safety and to follow the law.

Rodent Damage and Insulation

Mice, squirrels, and other rodents can cause big problems in your attic. They chew insulation, leave droppings, and build nests. This makes your insulation less effective and can also be a health risk due to the stack effect. Before adding new insulation, the contractor will remove damaged materials and clean the area. It’s also important to seal any holes where rodents could get in.

Wet Insulation from Ice Dams

Ice dams form when heat escapes through your roof. Snow melts and then refreezes, creating a barrier that traps water. This water can leak into your attic and soak the insulation. Wet insulation is ineffective and can grow mold or mildew. This makes it imperative that the wet insulation is removed. A licensed insulation contractor should install new insulation and conduct attic air sealing. Ventilation improvements can also help to stop ice dams on a roof.

Other Factors That Affect Attic Insulation Cost

• Types of Insulation: Spray foam insulation comes as a premium, but seals air leaks well. Fiberglass is more affordable but can allow leaks to pass through. Other options include cellulose and rigid foam boards.
• Size of the Attic: Larger attics need more materials and labor, which makes the project cost more.
• How Easy It Is to Access the Space: The hardest attics to insulate are the ones that have unusual shapes. They are often multi-level and have pipes, wires, and other obstacles that make it hard to get to all areas. These things make it tough to get to every area and add insulation properly.
• Attic Air Sealing and Ventilation: Sealing gaps and leaks is essential for improving energy efficiency. Good attic ventilation is also important for the health of your attic. Although these measures can increase initial costs, they lead to better long-term results.

Why Proper Insulation Is Worth It

Old or damaged insulation can cause big problems. It leads to high energy bills, uneven temperatures, and poor air quality. Issues like vermiculite, rodent damage, or wet insulation need prompt attention. Repairs make your home safer, more comfortable, and energy-efficient. While the cost may be high upfront, you’ll save money over time on energy bills.

Lindus Construction can help. We fix insulation issues and improve energy efficiency. Our team removes damaged insulation, seals air leaks, and installs high-quality materials. All projects come with a lifetime guarantee.  Schedule an inspection today to get started!

Leaky Roofs Can Lead To Attic Mold

Rafters, insulation, and sheathing with mold growth and discoloration are signals that the moisture source is a leaky roof.  Improper or weakened flashing around valleys, chimneys, and skylights can allow for water penetration into a home’s attic.  Ultimately, this will create mold.   

Improper Installation of Bathroom Exhaust Fans Causes Excess Attic Moisture & Mold

One of the biggest bath fan installation mistakes is having it vent into home’s attic instead of outdoors.  This approach introduces an unnecessary amount of moist air into the space.  When the warm, humid air encounters the attic’s cold roof sheathing, condensation takes place.  This leads to wet rafters and insulation, creating an environment for mold to thrive. 

Flawed Insulation: The Wrong Choice Can Cause Common Mold Or Black Mold In Attics

Attic insulation projects should be entrusted to reliable professionals that have a working understanding of building envelopes.  Opting for the wrong combination of insulation types or improper installation will trap the moisture that’s risen from the home’s lower levels.  With an inability to escape, the moisture will create an environment for mold to thrive.

Unsound Ventilation & Soffit Insulation Traps Moisture In Attic 

A common mistake insulation DIYers make is placing insulation in a home’s soffit vent.  Doing so prevents the vents from allowing in outside air to regulate a home’s attic temperature, creating a scenario that raises the attic’s temperature, allowing ice dams to form.  If ice dams cause water damage within the attic, it’s only a matter of time before insulation becomes saturated, allowing mold to grow. 

It’s vital that attic ventilation be balanced, allowing an equal amount of incoming and outgoing air.  Utilizing multiple ventilation systems in tandem can also lead to the creation of mold because the vents can cause moist air to circulate instead of dispelling it.     

Components That Make Up a 50 Year Roofing System & Prevent Attic Mold:

Is Mold In The Attic Dangerous?

Long answer short, attic mold can be incredibly dangerous to your health and to your home.  Unfortunately, out of sight does not mean out of mind when it comes to attic mold.  Moldy insulation should be removed, not only because it means the insulation’s properties are compromised, but also because of the health hazards associated with it.  Mold spores have the ability to circulate throughout your home.  This can lead to respiratory infections, eye irritations, compromised immune systems, and an array of allergic reactions. 

What Is Stack Effect Ventilation?

The stacking effect causes your home to draw air from your basement up to your attic through your walls during the winter months.  This is because the colder exterior air is denser and enters your home through gaps in the lowest level of your home.  Upon entry, it creates an upward circulation of warm air from your furnace through your floors and ceilings until it reaches your attic where it exits the home via areas that have not been fully sealed off.  If moisture condenses on the underside of roof sheathing, it can easily cause frost in attics to form.

In the summer months, the opposite is true and outside air enters through your crevices.  The warm air is pulled down your walls to your home’s lowest level where the air escapes through exterior gaps in your home.

The reverse stack effect causes your home’s HVAC system to work harder than it should have to, increasing your utility bills.  It can also lead to the premature failure of your furnace and air conditioner because they are running more frequently than they should have to.  The reverse stack effect can also compromise your home’s indoor air quality.  In some homes, attics become home to pests such as squirrels, mice, and bats.  In the summer months, when attic air is being forced downward, it can come in contact with fecal matter these pests have left, causing a decline in the quality of your home’s air.

Preventing The Stack Effect With Home Insulation & Ventilation

Critical steps towards preventing the stack effect are caulking, weather-stripping, and attic air sealing.  Areas of the attic that often require the installation of spray foam insulation to prevent leaking include can lights, plumbing vents, exhaust fans, and stove vents.  In the basement, areas that need sealing include the rim joists, plumbing penetrations, and the sill plate.

Fast Facts About Blower Door Testing

A reputable insulation contractor using diagnostic testing such as infrared imaging and blower door testing can help you pinpoint areas where your home is leaking air.  Winter provides the best opportunity for these types of diagnostic testing because of the significant variance between indoor and outdoor temperatures.  Energy audits and performance testing allow our installers to understand what needs to be addressed to combat the chimney effect, whether that’s home ventilation, insulation, air leaks, or a combination of them.

1. Pay Attention to Windows and Doors

The lower the temperature becomes; the more noticeable drafty windows and doors can become.  Common culprits include window seal failure, shoddy installation, improper caulking, and outdated windows.  A temporary fix can be adding caulking or weather-stripping, but it’s wise to render the services of a reputable professional that can discuss full frame window replacement.  Even if your windows and doors are in good shape, you can lower energy costs by opening curtains and shades on south-facing windows on sunny days to introduce more natural light and warmth to your home.  Closing curtains and shades at night can act as an additional insulator.

Here’s Why Builder Grade Windows Are a Poor Investment:

2. Invest in a Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats can be programmed so that temperatures are turned down when a home is unoccupied.  Some models are so intuitive that they can sense movement and understand when you’re away from home so that temperatures are adjusted accordingly.  Many times, local municipalities reward homeowners for installing smart thermostats by providing attractive rebates.

3. Change Your Air Filters

Furnace filters rarely have a lifespan of more than three months. Failure to regularly change filters not only compromises your home’s air quality, but also forces your furnace to work harder than it should.  When this happens, energy efficiency is also compromised.

4. Upgrade Your Home’s Insulation

Homes that lack adequate insulation allow the heated air you paid for to escape outdoors.  Signs you need more insulation in your home include ice dams, attic rodent infestation, extreme temperature fluctuations within your home, and finding water in your attic.

5. Consider Attic Air Sealing

Attic air sealing involves pinpointing and addressing areas of the attic that are permitting exterior air to filter in.  Vulnerable spots include those surrounding false soffits, bath fan penetrations, and can lights.  Weather-stripping, spray foam, and patches can be utilized to fill in gaps, creating a more energy efficient space.

6. Keep Your Chimney Flue Closed

Allowing your chimney flue to remain open when not in use is the equivalent of leaving a window open several inches.  The result is permitting a sizable amount of warm air to escape your home.

Contact us today to get started on a more energy-efficient home.

Attic Access Door

Your attic access hatch oftentimes requires major attention.  In some cases, contractors cut a sizable hole to serve as the door to the attic.  After the insulation in that spot has been removed, the area is rarely covered by much more than a flimsy piece of plywood, which does not act as an effective insulator.  The situation can be improved upon with the use of weather-stripping and latch bolts.  Rigid foam insulation on top of the hatch is also recommended for air sealing in the attic.

Soffits

A soffit is a section of a ceiling that is lower than the surrounding area.  One of their primary functions is to conceal ductwork.  In many cases, these spots lack adequate air sealing and are exposed to the attic, creating an opportunity for a home’s heated air to come in contact with cooler attic air.  Soffits that aren’t properly sealed off can allow moist air from the home’s living areas to rise and create condensation.  In the winter months, the condensation will freeze.  Once it thaws out in warmer weather, it can dampen the attic’s insulation, rendering it useless.   If you find yourself asking, “Is air sealing the attic worth it?” It absolutely is if you’re looking for more stable home temperatures throughout the year that can also reduce heating and cooling costs.

Recessed Lights

Recessed lights produce exposed holes in your attic that encourage the mixture of air between heated and unheated spaces within your home.  This interaction of varying air temperatures will create a warmer home in the summer and a hotter attic in the winter.  Warmer attic air temperature in tandem with the heat from the lights create an environment for ice dams to form.  The likelihood of an ice dam forming increases the closer the can light is to the roof deck.  It’s wise to consult a pro for sealing around recessed lights because if approached incorrectly, a fire hazard can be created.

Bathroom Vent Fan

Bath fans that only vent into the attic and not outdoors are problematic because they introduce moisture into the space each time they run.  When not in use, they can vent outside air into the bathroom.  In this case, attic sealing your attic can help prevent air leaks and maintain your desired home temperature. However, even properly installed bath fans can have air leaks if the gap between the fan and drywall is not caulked.  Fan housing must also be properly sealed off in order to prevent air infiltration.

Learn How A Blower Door Test Can Diagnose Home Air Leaks: