How To Control Humidity In Attic For Storage Purposes
A moist attic means moist insulation and moist insulation is less effective.
How to control humidity in attic for storage purposes. Regularly airing out your attic is a very simple and effective way to prevent the formation of attic moisture. By adding moisture to the lower floor you increase the partial pressure of the water vapor which pushes it to areas of lower vapor pressure like the attic. Double and triple pane windows also insulate interior glass from the cold. An attic that stays overly humid for days or weeks on end can.
When that same room is cooled the percent humidity will rise. When the temperature rises the percent relative humidity will fall. After from sealing things up and fixing your pressure balance this is usually the best solution to high humidity in a spray foamed attic. A dehumidifier can remove it.
If you live in a warmer climate you may want to air out your attic twice a week. Winter air is by nature not humid so the problem must be condensation related. If water is running down the window or objects seem wet to the touch then the humidity is far too high. During a hot and humid summer air conditioning will remove some unwanted moisture while cooling an indoor space all the while raising the percent relative humidity in the home or building.
Storm doors and windows minimize cool surfaces in the winter by separating the interior from cold outside air. Put a dehumidifier up there plug it in set it between 50 and 60 rh and forget about it. High humidity means greater chances for mold to grow. So they equalize pretty quickly.
Alternatively install passive vents such as gable soffit and ridge vents which are openings in the roof that allow hot air to escape. They have thermostats that turn the fan on at a recommended preset temperature of 100 110 degrees. Also because airflow is not uniform significant condensation may still occur. When it comes to humidity you would be best to have the levels below 50 to avoid mold growth and structural rot.
Once a week open your attic door and leave it open for several hours. If you raise the attic temperature the rh in both places would be the same. If your attic features a window open it as well. You can check the humidity level by observing the windows and the objects in the attic.
Proper ventilation will help maintaining a constant temperature in your attic. Two basic elements of controlling moisture buildup are minimizing cool surfaces and reducing humidity. The difference in the two spaces is the dry bulb temperature. This may increase condensation and lower the effectiveness of the insulation.
Increased ventilation alone will increase the exfiltration of air lowering the temperature of the attic. Still got high humidity.