If you notice ceiling water stains around your bathroom’s exhaust fan, your first thought might be that you have a leak requiring a roof repair.
(The picture above shows moisture buildup in the attic, so much so that the nails and insulation are frozen!)
In most instances, however, this is not the case. More likely, poor venting is causing excess heat and moisture from your bathroom to gather in the attic. Rather than being directed out through the roof.
Ceiling water stains = venting problems
Ceiling water stains occur when warm, moist air from the bathroom hits cold ducts and attic materials. It condenses and then drips back down through the duct and out the fan onto the ceiling.
The consequences of this are not pretty:
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Mold growth. The purpose of a bathroom exhaust fan is to remove moist air and odors from the bathroom. When it fails to do so, the environment becomes ideal for mold and bacteria to thrive. You may spot it on your bathroom walls or ceiling, but sometimes there are no visible signs of mold inside your home. The most likely place for it to develop is in your attic, where it often goes unnoticed and can harm your family’s health.
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Saturated insulation. If your attic insulation becomes saturated with moisture, your entire roofing system may degrade over time. Wet insulation also has a decreased R-value, which measures its thermal resistance. A decreased R-value indicates that your insulation is less efficient. This will result in higher energy bills.
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Wood rot. Excess moisture can cause rot and decay in your wood. Unfortunately, by the time you spot wood rot, the wood may have already lost up to 50% of its original strength.
What can you do?
If your attic insulation has been damaged by moisture or you have unexplained ceiling stains, give Muth & Company Roofing a call at (614) 882-0900.
Your roofing company in Columbus, Ohio, will get to the root of the problem and restore your home to normal in no time.