Mold In Attic From Bathroom Vent

Dryer vents plumbing vents kitchen or bathroom fans vented into the attic.

Mold in attic from bathroom vent.

First and foremost the fan must be ducted to the exterior not to the attic. Eventually this mold can develop into wood rot. Moisture food and warmth. Black mold in your air vents can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms and health problems.

Attics usually have a passive ventilation system in which outside air comes in through the soffit eave vents at the bottom warms up in the attic and escapes through the can or ridge vents at the top because hot air rises. Bathroom ventilation codes require a bathroom exhaust fan to vent to the exterior not the attic for health and structural reasons. A greater danger is posed by bathroom fans that vent directly into the attic or soffit areas rather than directly outside. The most common cause of attic mold by far is blocked or insufficient ventilation of the attic space.

Symptoms to watch for. Not all building jurisdictions require bathrooms to have an exhaust fan if the bathroom has an openable window that has 1 5 square foot of open area when open. In many cases moisture from bathroom fans is the primary source of attic mold infestation. Mold needs 3 things to grow.

If you eliminate just one of these elements mold will starve and die. Telltale black mold stains typically result from this ventilation error. The symptoms may vary from person to person and can also depend on the length of exposure and the amount of spores inhaled. Bathroom fan vent code requirements include no venting to attic areas to help reduce mold or structural problems.

It is important to have a balanced ventilation system using equal amounts incoming and outgoing air. Bathroom ventilation done right fortunately there are several ways to make sure the bath fan is used properly to evacuate moist air. Mold in air vents.