Causes Of Frost In Attic

During winter conditions attic frost is a problem associated with attic bypasses.

Causes of frost in attic.

When a warm sunny day arrives after a long cold stretch and it seems like you have a roof leak when there isn t a cloud in the sky it s probably attic icing otherwise known as ice dams or ice damming and the surprising thing is that it s very unlikely that the roof covering itself is the problem. Why does frost form in the attic. Ice frost and water in an attic condensation new construction text. Click the following link for an excellent guide to attic air sealing.

In one house frost accumulations of up to fifteen hundred pounds were discovered one cold february warm air rising in the house pushes moisture up through cracks in the ceiling. Without proper attic ventilation in your home you could have a considerable amount of frost accumulate in your attic during the cold winter months. It is caused by warm moist air coming into contact with cold surfaces and dropping its moisture. This frost is the result of warm air rising from the living areas underneath.

The best way to prevent frost from accumulating in an attic is to seal off attic air leaks. When it reaches the cold surface of the roof sheathing and framing it turns to frost. Last winter i noticed condensation and water droplets on the nails that stick through the roof into the attic. At times there was ice and frost on the nails.

Remember that polar vortex we had not too long ago where we had 70 degree temperature swings in about 48 hours. The attic is meant to be a cool space in the winter. Why is there ice in my roof. Can i cure it.

Frost accumulates in attics when moisture laden air from the house gets up there when it s cold. Well temperature fluctuations like that are a prime culprit for frost in the attic. Frost forms in the attic for one reason heat loss. What you re looking at is evidence of excessive moisture in your house.

Heat loss is when warm air and the moisture that joins it from the conditioned living space moves into the attic. The problem in attics is primarily one of quantity. While seemingly relatively small air leaks may not seem to be important these can add up to a lot of frost accumulation in the attic. My wife ali and i bought an old house 18 months ago.

Boxes stored in the attic were sometimes wet. When warm air from inside the house escapes traveling up through the bypasses the moisture condenses on the roof boards and rafters where the frost can form. What causes frost in your attic. When the outside temperature rises again the frost thaws water collects and can leak into.

Water vapor is migrating upward and eventually filtering into the attic. What causes this frost. It is a serious problem because the frost turns into water as it dries out and this water will then leak into the home rot out the roof and joists and cause mold to. When the moisture gets into the attic it condenses on the roof.

This is bad for several reasons. Frost in the attic is no different than anywhere else.