In many cases moisture from bathroom fans is the primary source of attic mold infestation.
Mold in attic from bathroom vent.
Symptoms to watch for.
Are exhaust fans required for a bathroom.
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.
Black mold in your air vents can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms and health problems.
First and foremost the fan must be ducted to the exterior not to the attic.
Bathroom ventilation codes require a bathroom exhaust fan to vent to the exterior not the attic for health and structural reasons.
Bathroom ventilation done right fortunately there are several ways to make sure the bath fan is used properly to evacuate moist air.
Mold needs 3 things to grow.
Bathroom fan vent code requirements include no venting to attic areas to help reduce mold or structural problems.
Dryer vents plumbing vents kitchen or bathroom fans vented into the attic.
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.
Related to 3 above this practice can pump warm moist air into the attic where it can be trapped and begin the cycle of mold growth.
It is important to have a balanced ventilation system using equal amounts incoming and outgoing air.
The symptoms may vary from person to person and can also depend on the length of exposure and the amount of spores inhaled.
The most common cause of attic mold by far is blocked or insufficient ventilation of the attic space.
A greater danger is posed by bathroom fans that vent directly into the attic or soffit areas rather than directly outside.
Eventually this mold can develop into wood rot.
Moisture food and warmth.
Common symptoms and health problems caused by black mold may include.