Water Damage and Taking Care of the Attic
Posted by bdjakuio on April 4, 2009
Water damage can happen in any part and all parts of the house and they can run havoc in places most ignored just like the attic. Attics are located at the top of the house just below the roof. They fill the spaces between the ceiling and the slanted roof. Some attics are made as bedrooms and some are made as home offices with windows and staircases but most of the time attics are used for storage of things that are not needed and thus make it to be one of the most neglected portions of your home.
Attics can also acquire water damage, especially during a big storm and the moisture level of the attic changes or when there are leak in pipes or stains on walls. When this happens, water damage follows. The necessity of cleaning up the mess brought about by water damage should be remedied.
Having an attic requires having a vent as well. It should be installed at the peak of the roof. Moisture and surface discoloration found within the vent is a red flag. Look for the location of the moisture problem and clean it. Any indication that there are debris near the vent or even bird nests should be removed right away. Make sure that there is enough ventilation both in the attic and even in crawl spaces.
When doing prevention and maintenance against water damage, it is also necessary to inspect the insulation. An indication of a good running insulation is when it is still soft, thick and fluffy. The main job of an insulator is to keep the heat from escaping and condensation. If the insulation becomes moist, better search the cause of the moisture and fix it especially during the rainy season when uneven temperature gets inside the attic and could cause the insulator to get wet. When the insulation gets wet, better dispose of it since they may make the moisture level higher than usual.
Doing water damage inspection should also include inspecting the ceiling and floor. Look around the plumbing pipes, chimneys, vents and skylight if there are mold formations or if these are starting to rot. Also, check for water damage at the bottom side of the roof sheathing and rafters if there are visible signs of stains.
The water can easily come through truss, the attic floor or the rafters so the floor should also be examined, if there are visible signs of dampness.
Do regular maintenance and check up the attic’s swamp coolers, air conditioners and the heating, ventilating and cooling system. These appliances can also be a cause for water damage and by doing a habitual checkup on the said items, possible damages may be lessened.
Recessed light canisters could also help to indicate if there is water damage build up in the attic. If there are stains close to the wood or if the insulation around the canisters is damp or has stains, this is evidence that moisture is present.
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