Courtesy: A Buyer's Choice Home Inspections
During colder months, there’s an increased risk of moisture within a home’s attic space.
If given a pathway, warm, moist air finds its way into the attic and condenses before it’s able to exhaust through various venting systems. The harsh, cold temperatures turn this condensation into frost and, as weather warms up, the frost melts and can cause serious damage to the sheathing, roof framing, insulation and living space below.
As part of all standard home inspections, home maintenance or pre-inspections, a home inspector will check for frost and moisture issues in your attic. They may even use thermal imaging to detect cold spots, which are often linked to voids in insulation or moisture in the attic.
If left unattended, attic moisture can lead to a lot of problems, the worst of which includes water damage and the formation of mould.
As a homeowner, it’s also wise to perform your own visual inspection each winter. While we don’t advise that you climb into the attic and walk around, because it could be dangerous for anyone not familiar with the attic’s structural integrity, knowing how to detect attic frost and ventilation issues is helpful to protecting your family and home.
A ladder and flashlight are the only devices you’ll need to conduct a quick attic check. Lift the attic hatch. The box frame around the hatch will likely show signs of frost or moisture problems if they exist. Next, shine your flashlight into the attic area to see if any frost, moisture or insulation problems present themselves. If you see any problems, contact your home inspector immediately to take a closer look and devise a plan to correct your home’s attic issues.
Whether you are buying or selling a home, Beaumont and Associates can help you identify areas of concern with a property that could affect its value, including attic issues. Our selling process includes a 5-Point Presale Home Inspection to identify potential problems and help ensure that the offers you receive come with few or no conditions. To learn more, call us at 519-971-4274 or email us today.
