Frost in the attic is no different than anywhere else.
Causes of frost in attic.
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.
The attic is meant to be a cool space in the winter.
What causes frost in your attic.
During winter conditions attic frost is a problem associated with attic bypasses.
My wife ali and i bought an old house 18 months ago.
When the outside temperature rises again the frost thaws water collects and can leak into.
Ice frost and water in an attic condensation new construction text.
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.
Why does frost form in the attic.
It is caused by warm moist air coming into contact with cold surfaces and dropping its moisture.
What causes this frost.
This frost is the result of warm air rising from the living areas underneath.
When it reaches the cold surface of the roof sheathing and framing it turns to frost.
Boxes stored in the attic were sometimes wet.
That s about it pretty simple.
Without proper attic ventilation in your home you could have a considerable amount of frost accumulate in your attic during the cold winter months.
Click the following link for an excellent guide to attic air sealing.
Why is there ice in my roof.
The problem in attics is primarily one of quantity.
Well temperature fluctuations like that are a prime culprit for frost in the attic.
At times there was ice and frost on the nails.
Frost accumulates in attics when moisture laden air from the house gets up there when it s cold.
Heat loss is when warm air and the moisture that joins it from the conditioned living space moves into the attic.
What you re looking at is evidence of excessive moisture in your house.
The humid air in your home rises to the top of your home the attic when the temperature gets too low.
Water vapor is migrating upward and eventually filtering into the attic.
This is bad for several reasons.
Can i cure it.
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.
Last winter i noticed condensation and water droplets on the nails that stick through the roof into the attic.
Remember that polar vortex we had not too long ago where we had 70 degree temperature swings in about 48 hours.
When the moisture gets into the attic it condenses on the roof.
Will it cause any harm.
Frost forms in the attic for one reason heat loss.
