Attic Mold Removal in Spring, TX

Spring homes and attic moisture

Spring is an unincorporated community in north Harris County, about 19 miles from Houston, that grew after the 1970s as subdivisions spread north from the city. Old Town Spring is its restored historic core. Neighborhoods along Cypress Creek, such as Inverness Forest, Northwood Pines and Ponderosa Forest, are best known for flooding: about 1,700 homes along the creek flooded in the 2016 Tax Day flood and more than 8,700 during Harvey. In the attic, the story is usually different. Many homes from the last few decades put the air handler and long duct runs overhead, and after years of summer use, condensate lines clog, pans rust and duct insulation tears. Heavy rain adds roof leaks at vents and valleys.

Insulation: keep or remove?

The protocol lists the exact areas and quantities, and the remediation company must stick to it. Replacement insulation usually goes in only after the consultant's post-remediation assessment confirms the decking and framing are clean and dry, so expect a short gap between removal and reinstalling. Ask who handles the new insulation, since some remediation companies do and others leave it to an insulation contractor.

Signs worth checking

• Brown or black blotches on roof decking near the air handler
• Insulation that has darkened in a ring under a duct
• A soft spot or new stain on an upstairs ceiling
• Condensation on duct jackets on hot afternoons

Seasonal timing

Summer brings the heaviest AC load and the most condensate, so most attic problems show up between May and September. After any major storm, check decking around roof penetrations. Replacing decking or framing in unincorporated Harris County requires a permit from the Harris County Office of the County Engineer. If the AC is near the growth, ask the assessor before running it, following EPA's advice not to operate a system you suspect is contaminated.