One of the more common defects I find on the home inspections I do in Northwest Indiana is the bathroom exhaust fans venting directly into the attic. Over time this can cause some serious problems.The purpose of an exhaust fan is to remove moisture from your home. The exhaust fans need to be ducted to the exterior of the home. They can be ducted through the roof, a side wall, or out the soffit. An exhaust fan vented into the attic space will pump all that warm moist air into the attic and condensation can form on the underside of the roof sheathing and on the framing members. The moisture can promote mold growth which can cause health problems and can be costly to remediate. When wood reaches a moisture content of 20% or more it will begin to rot. Needless to say, this can become a serious problem.
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Beverly Shores Home Inspection[/caption]
Ice Dams are a Problem
In colder climates this can lead to ice damns’ forming on the roof. The warm air on the underside of the roof sheathing will melt the snow on the roof and when the water reaches the overhang it will refreeze. Once ice has formed at the overhang the water will start to backup under the shingles and can then leak into the attic and the wall cavity. As a certified professional inspector in Northwest Indiana this is just one of many issues I will look for in your home.