Owning a home comes with many responsibilities, and this includes protecting it from the elements. Your roof and attic are especially vulnerable to moisture damage. Here are some tips to help keep them in top condition this New Year.

Plug Up Air Leaks

To protect your attic and roof, begin by sealing any air leaks that you find. Signs of air leaks include things like cold drafts in the attic, unexplained fluctuations in temperature, and even excess dust. Darkened insulation or frozen areas may help pinpoint the source of the leak. If you do find an air leak, you can seal it with products like weather stripping, metal flashing, caulk, and spray insulation. Do a good job because if air can leak through, moisture will surely follow.

Install Insulation

Poor insulation can allow humid air to rise into the attic. Once there, it can stick around until it causes condensation to collect. Water damage may happen soon after. Improving your attic’s insulation job is one of the easiest ways to ward off water damage to your attic and roof. Have a professional come perform an inspection. They will identify deficiencies and recommend which insulation type is best.

Improve Ventilation

Another strategy for removing the possibility of moisture damage is to improve your attic and roof’s ventilation. Lack of ventilation can actually result in condensation collecting where it shouldn’t. Proper ventilation, on the other hand, lets more humid air that could cause condensation escape to the outside. This air is then replaced by cooler and drier air that will not create condensation inside your attic. Two choices for this task are passive ventilation that uses natural airflow and mechanical ventilation that uses fans. Installing proper ventilation is a complex task that you will definitely need to leave up to professionals.

Use a Dehumidifier

Another option you have for fighting off this moisture is using a dehumidifier in your attic. The humidity should be kept between 30 and 50 percent to help prevent moisture damage. If there’s poor ventilation in your attic, utilizing a dehumidifier is a lower-cost option to help prevent moisture damage and inhibit mold growth. Over the long term, the risk of things like wood rot will be lessened if the dehumidifier is used consistently. Still, the dehumidifier will only lessen the symptoms of an underlying problem that should probably be fixed by plugging up leaks, installing insulation, and adding better ventilation.

Don’t wait until something becomes catastrophic before you act. If you live near Allentown, PA, and need attic insulation installed or other roofing services, you should consider hiring our company, Bachman’s Roofing, for the job.