Ceiling mold can produce a host of destructive effects in your home, depending on the root cause. If you notice any ceiling mold at all, it is best to work quickly to take care of the underlying problem before things get worse. But what causes ceiling mold?
The 7 most common causes of ceiling mold are:
- Increased humidity
- Water leaks
- Poor insulation
- Darkness
- Temperature
- Adequate food sources
- Lack of airflow
You should understand the problem you’re dealing with before trying to solve it. Every type of mold has its own solution, but identifying a specific reason for your ceiling’s current state will make solving this issue much easier and ensure future growth in that area (and other areas) is controlled as well.
What Does Ceiling Mold Need in Order to Grow and Spread?
Ceiling mold needs a specific environment to help it grow and spread. By eliminating or minimizing these factors, you can help prevent instances of ceiling mold appearing in your home.
- Humidity of 50% or higher
- Temperature of 75°F(24°C) or higher
- Continuous food source
- Oxygen
By examining each of these contributing elements for mold growth, you can pinpoint the cause for ceiling mold in your home. Let’s talk a bit more about these causes and how to solve them…
The 7 Causes of Ceiling Mold
So, you have spotted mold on your ceiling. What’s the next step? I recommend that you find out what caused it so we can figure out how to get rid of it for good!
You can try exploring some of these reasons yourself or call in an expert to help narrow down the root cause. No matter which route you choose, you should exercise extreme caution when examining an outbreak of mold. Spores can cling to your clothing and spread quickly to other areas of the home through the air vents, so carefully explore any moldy areas without disturbing the surface.
You may be lucky and only have one of the below issues to deal with, but it’s not uncommon to have two or more of these issues. It’s best to combine solutions to permanently eliminate ceiling mold.
1. Humidity
Mold loves moisture and needs it to grow. You will often find mold in bathroom ceilings due to the regular incidences of increased humidity. Older homes can produce many instances of ceiling mold, with increased humidity being one of the major causes. Escalated humidity can occur in locations that have regular rainy weather or consistently humid climates.
Solution
Invest in a dehumidifier to cut down on the moisture that’s in your home. While dehumidifiers do not kill mold spores already present, they will help prevent any further problems once you have tackled the mold itself.
For extra measure, you can install adequate bathroom ceiling fans to circulate and remove air from the bathroom. If you are in warmer climates, you may want to consider investing in an air conditioner to help remove excess humidity.
You can check out the price of this premium dehumidifier on Amazon, or this budget option which is also excellently rated by users.
2. Water Leaks
Undetected water leaks will help cause ceiling mold to grow effectively. Water that saturates building materials, and produces dampness, gives mold spores a location to grow and spread. While water itself doesn’t bring mold to the home, it provides the perfect environment for ceiling mold to thrive.
Solution
By examining the room or space above your ceiling mold, you can see if there are any leaking pipes or fittings with visible damage, causing a leak. Remove and replace any worn-out pipes or fittings to avoid future leaks and clean the ceiling area affected by mold.
3. Poor Insulation
Insulation helps regulate the temperature and moisture within a building. Consequently, a lack of adequate insulation can be a severe cause of ceiling mold for many homes. Additionally, if your cellulose insulation has become wet, it can harbor mold above and in your ceiling. This ground paper insulation material is the perfect environment for mold growth.
Solution
Choosing fiberglass insulation without any paper backing could be your best bet when looking to avoid any future mold problems. The mold spores cannot attach to the sharp fiberglass surface, making it an effective mold prevention method.
4. Darkness
Mold spreads quicker in dark places. Although mold can grow in both dark and light areas, it tends to increase dramatically faster when it is not under direct light. Lack of exposure to direct sunlight or other UV light sources can support rapid mold growth.
Solution
Install UV light fixtures that are designed for high humidity areas to ensure there is ample light exposure. These devices can help deter the growth of ceiling mold. Try to keep curtains or blinds open when possible, to ensure direct sunlight exposure to rooms that are susceptible to ceiling mold.
Check out this plug-in UV light that works great for destroying mold. (link to Amazon).
5. Temperature
The environmental temperature is an essential factor in ceiling mold growth. Although mold can grow in various climates, it will spread best when the overall temperature is at 70°F(20°C) or higher. Mold cannot grow in freezing temperatures but can still cause damage to a ceiling even if the room temperature is sitting below 75°F(24°C). Consequently, severe heat can also keep mold from growing.
Solution
Monitor the temperature of the room where mold is present. Try to keep the environment less than 75°F(24°C) with fans, air conditioners, or open windows. Rooms that remain closed tend to retain heat, so be sure to open the door of the affected area regularly. By doing this, it will help disperse any build-up of warm air.
Using portable heaters directed at the ceiling will also help destroy and fend off any ceiling mold.
6. Adequate Food Sources
Mold needs a food source to grow and multiply in your ceiling. Biodegradable materials like drywall, wood, ceiling tiles, and wallpaper are optimal food sources for mold to spread. For many ceilings in a home, these adequate food sources mean they are susceptible to growing mold under ideal conditions.
Solution
There are mold-preventing additives that can be included in the paint to help ceiling mold from appearing and spreading in your home. By protecting your ceiling with a specialized product, including mildewcide, you can ensure that the ceilings in your home will remain mold-free. These additives work great (link to Amazon).
7. Lack of Airflow
Stagnant air can be a significant cause of ceiling mold in many places in the home, especially the bathroom. A bathroom will periodically become quite humid with use, and if there is a lack of airflow from a weak exhaust fan (or no exhaust fan at all), ceiling mold can occur quickly.
Other spots where you may notice ceiling mold are bedrooms, behind closets, or in the corners of a room. These areas are prone to ceiling mold due to the lack of airflow. Proper airflow can keep mold from spreading.
Solution
Fresh air can be a good thing, especially for homes that have present or past mold issues. Opening windows and doors can encourage fresh air to rotate through your home, cutting down on the chances of mold spreading throughout the room.
Use fans to help keep the air dry, including a dehumidifier or air conditioner, which will not only remove humidity but also circulate air.
Conclusion
No homeowner wants to face a ceiling mold problem, but it is a common issue for many. By examining the contributing factors of mold, you can help narrow down 1, or more, of the 7 causes for your current ceiling mold concerns.
Monitoring your humidity, temperature, airflow, and potential water damage will significantly reduce the chances of you having to face a ceiling mold problem down the road. Regular checking for plumbing leaks is a proactive way to help keep mold from starting in your ceiling where aging pipes and fittings are present.
