You’ve probably said, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” a time or two as an Orlando resident. Although your roof can’t talk, it has the same opinion. Did you know that humidity can negatively impact many parts of your home, especially your roofing?

Whether you have asphalt, tile or metal roofing, you may notice mildew growing on your roof. The staining and streaking you see on tile and asphalt, especially, is a result of the humid air. It’s a good idea to work with your Orlando roofer on keeping your roof clean. Although you can’t change the humidity outside, you can help mitigate the damage it does to your roof.

Humidity Inside Your Home

If you have a smart thermostat it may tell you what the relative humidity is inside your home. When you leave the air conditioner on, you should see the humidity level around 50%. We’re generally comfortable at anything below 60%. However, your hygrometer, the instrument that measures humidity, only measures it in the room where it is. It should come as no surprise that bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens have higher humidity levels.

The water vapor rises and without proper insulation and ventilation, goes into your attic. If your attic doesn’t have proper ventilation, it collects that moisture. When the outside air is humid and you’re adding to the moisture from your home, damage occurs. You may see mold or mildew growth inside your attic on your roof deck. Sometimes your insulation becomes less effective making the problem worse.

Managing Humidity in Your Home

The easiest thing you can do is turn on your exhaust fans while showering, doing laundry, or cooking. However, make sure that your exhaust vents go outside your home and not into your attic. The tubing used in many older homes is just cheap plastic which is easily damaged. Check to make sure your venting that goes through your attic is sealed.

Have your Orlando roofer check your roof’s ventilation. If you don’t have enough ventilation, your attic will not be able to breathe and your roofing system will suffer. There is a specific formula used to calculate the right venting.

It should go without saying that you need to keep your gutters clean and your roof in good shape. If you have a roof leak, moisture will get into your attic. If you’re looking for an Orlando roofer for roof repair or to evaluate the ventilation in your roof, call Russ Noyes Roofing at 407-388-7700 or fill out our contact form.