Are you worried that your home has water damage? Have you noticed moisture issues around your ceilings or in your basement? Moisture damage can be difficult to repair, not to mention expensive.
We all understand the destruction floods and severe storms can create, but a water-damaged home isn’t always caused by storm damage. In fact, sometimes the source of the water damage isn’t clear to the naked eye. Small cracks, holes, and other flaws in your home’s exterior can let small amounts of water into places it shouldn’t be.
In this guide, you’ll learn more about what causes moisture damage. Let’s get started!
Risks of Water Damage to Your Home
Moisture problems can wear down your home and lead to safety and even health hazards. While your home has probably been structurally designed to handle all sorts of moisture on the outside, when water makes its way to the interior, it can cause all sorts of problems.
Leaks Cause Ugly Ceiling Stains
Do you have mysterious ceiling stains? This is a clear sign of water damage. A leaky roof could be to blame, or it could be a different exterior problem entirely.
Mold Grows When Moisture Is Present
Moisture provides an ideal environment for mold and mildew to grow. Though mold-killing products are handy for spot-cleaning, you should have your home inspected if you see even a small sign of mold.
Hire an experienced contractor to look for water damage and determine whether your house is properly ventilated to ensure moisture levels stay down.
Neglected Leaks Lead to Structural Deterioration
Does your roof appear saggy? Is your hardwood floor warping? Water that’s found its way into places it shouldn’t has a way of drastically changing the appearance of anything it touches.
If something seems warped, soft, or squishy, chances are something is wrong with the way your home manages moisture.
Because water damage can come from so many places and affect so many parts of your home, it can be difficult to find the source. Three frequent causes of moisture damage an improperly ventilated attic, a leaky roof, and clogged gutters are easily missed by the average homeowner.
Read on to learn more about leaky roofs and stuffy attics, and discover if either could be responsible for the moisture damage in your home.
3 Common Causes of Moisture Damage
A leaky roof is just as it sounds – something has damaged your roofing, resulting in an entrance point for water and the consequential need for roof repair.
A poorly ventilated attic is a bit more of a nuanced problem.
A clogged gutter is a rather straightforward problem, but you might not realize the damage it’s causing right away.
Let’s learn a bit more about these three causes of moisture damage: poorly ventilated attics, leaky roofs, and clogged gutters.
1. Poorly Ventilated Attic
A poorly ventilated attic causes the temperatures on your roof to fluctuate. Many attics are made with vents, which allow outside air to enter and the inside air to leave.
When these vents are obstructed, or the attic is otherwise improperly ventilated, the lack of airflow can allow ice to form there during the winter months, which in turn melts and causes moisture damage to your home in the spring.
2. Leaky Roof
A leaky roof can be caused by many underlying issues. Storm damage can cause small holes or cracks in the roofing system. Or, wear and tear over time can cause minor openings in the rooftop.
Over time, leaky roofs can cause mold and other issues.
3. Clogged Gutters
Clogged gutters might seem like an obvious issue, but you might not notice the clog immediately. The debris can lead to water on the roof, or even create flooding issues if the downspout isn’t installed correctly.
Always ensure your gutters are cleaned regularly!
More Information About Moisture Damage
While all three problems can cause water damage to your home, they each come with a unique set of symptoms.
- If the moisture damage shows up near extreme temperature, but not when it rains, you probably have attic issues. Your roof acts as your home’s front line of defense from the elements. If you notice issues coming up during times of extreme precipitation, chances are it’s this front line to blame.
However, if your moisture damage shows up near the spring thaw, for example, it’s unlikely (but possible) that your roof is the culprit. In these situations, it might pay to look into your attic’s ventilation before your roof.
- A dark attic could be an improperly ventilated attic. We’re not saying it should be as bright as daylight! However, if you are unable to see light coming in from the lowest edges of the roof, you could have insulation crammed down there which prevents your attic from breathing.
- If your asphalt roof has shingles missing, look into it. Roofs wear their hearts on their sleeves. Aesthetic concerns related to wear-and-tear are a good sign your roof isn’t doing its job as it should be, and could be contributing to your home’s moisture damage.
Prevent Water Damage With Local Roofing Contractors
Water damage to any part of your home should never be ignored. It’s important to keep your siding, windows, roofing, and other exteriors well-maintained to protect the structural integrity of your home. If you’re concerned about water damage, Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors is here to help!
Give our Sauk Rapids office a call now at 320-252-9086.