Hey everyone! Four years ago, we had spray foam insulation installed in our attic and, since then, we've started to notice mold developing all over our house, which we never had in 36 years of living here. The only changes we've made are the foam insulation and creating holes in the ductwork to "cool the attic." To clarify, we've never had any water issues in the house, and it was built back in 1987. I'm starting to think the holes in the ductwork combined with the humid attic might be the reason behind the mold. Could this be the case?
1 Answer
It sounds like the mold could indeed be linked to the changes you've made. If the attic was originally vented and you sealed it off with spray foam, that would require proper air conditioning and dehumidification because the air in the attic and ducts becomes part of the conditioned space. Holes in the ductwork can totally screw up airflow and lead to humidity issues, a perfect setup for mold growth. Have you checked if the old insulation was removed? That's crucial, too.
Right? Cooling an unsealed attic is a bizarre choice. Normally, the best method to cool attics is to improve ventilation—like making sure the air can flow freely from the soffits to the ridge vents. Plus drilling holes in AC ducting seems like a recipe for disaster!