Attic mold can become a serious problem if you don’t have enough venting up there to keep moisture to a minimum. Optimum venting is a must and requires at least one vent in the roof itself, an a couple of vents in the roof overhang to help keep air circulation flowing.

One of the biggest problems involving mold in attics is no  or very little insulation. In addition, too much insulation can cause vents to become plugged and minimize the air circulation. Most professionals recommend that the more insulation you have in the attic, the more venting you will need. Without proper airflow attics can become prone to molding due to excessive moisture.

If you believe you may already have mold growing in your attic, one of the first signs that there is a problem is when you smell a musty or pungent odor in the air. Even if you don’t smell anything, you should still check for mold.

You can either have a professional inspect for mold or if you know you can do it yourself, you can take a flashlight and check the nail points on your shingles on the roof for rusty or black stains, which would indication a moisture problem. If you find there are black stains in the rafters, then you definitely have a mold problem.

Before you can begin mold removal however, you need to stop the moisture source and prevent further problems by unplugging any vents that are plugged, adding vents if needed or installing a fan. And while you’re at it, check to see that the bathroom and kitchen fans are not blowing moist air into your attic.

Once you’ve removed the moisture, you can purchase a product designed for attic mold clean up, or hire a mold removal professional if the job is more than you can handle.