Leaky Home? The Answer Might Be Over Your Head
There are few things as worrying as a leaky home. When you start to spot the signs of mold encroaching or you feel a draft that just won’t seem to go away. Plugging up the holes in the walls might be the first thought you have. Seal the doors, replace the windows, and look for any cracks. But there’s one part of the home that many don’t immediately think to check because it’s quite literally over their head. Here are a few reasons why above you is the first place you should check for any leaks.
Your shield
The roof and attic are an important part of the barrier between the home and the weather outside. Without the proper support, they won’t be able to do their job, however. If you want an energy efficient home, you have to make sure that you have insulation installed in your attic. Heat rises and, if you don’t have your attic insulated, it will rise up and out of the home entirely. However, many think it’s enough to insulate the walls of the attic or the inside of the roof. Pull up any floorboards you got up there and layer some insulation beneath them, too.
The roof itself
The top of the home needs to be able to cope with whatever kind of weather you face, too. If a tile gets damaged or comes undone, no amount of insulation will protect from the havoc that the weather can wreak. For one, the cold and heat of the outside can invade as they wish, making the home unbearable in the summer and winter alike. But rain falling directly into the home will do a lot more damage. You need to consider the best materials for your climates. In areas that see plenty of storms, regular roofing isn’t enough, you need to consider options like impact resistant shingles from Texas Star Roofing. There are many different roofing options, with some more inclined to deal better with certain types of weather than the others. Consider your options to find the one that is most effective for the kind of abuse you expect the roof to endure.
What’s really in your attic?
As well insulated and roofed as it might be, there’s always a risk of moisture and heat gathering in the attic to make a rather dangerous mix. Every now and then, it’s worth going up to there to inspect and eliminate any mold. One way to make sure that moist, warm air isn’t allowed to stagnate, for instance, is to install attic exhaust vent fans from providers like Air Vent. Fans can be wired with humidity sensors so they know when they’re needed, too, so you’re not shooting energy costs sky high just to keep your attic dry.
The home must be able to seal itself against the outside world. The cold, the heat, the rain can all do damage not just to the home but your health. The risk is serious enough that you need to be willing to look where you might not normally think of. When you feel a draft, or spot some signs of mold or damp, don’t forget to look up.
