I've been dealing with serious humidity issues in my upstairs for the past two summers, and it's driving me crazy! Our flat roof Chicago brick home has developed a mildew and musty smell whenever it gets hot and humid outside. It's like the humidity is trapped in the walls, especially after we insulated the attic in 2022. I've checked for leaks but found none, and I'm worried it's just humid air inside the walls. I've tried running a dehumidifier, adjusting the AC settings, and even venting fans, but the smell only gets worse. What kind of company should I contact for help? Am I missing something?
1 Answer
It sounds like the insulation added in your attic might be messing with the ventilation system your house was originally designed for. When you insulate a space that isn’t built for it, airflow gets trapped, which can lead to all the humidity issues you’re having. You could either remove the insulation to improve ventilation or look into installing an external ventilation system like an ERV. That might help clear up the moisture problems.
So flat roofs aren't meant to be insulated? Should I consult a roofing company about adding ventilation? I'm really hoping there's an easy fix for this!