Causes Of Frost In Attic

It is caused by warm moist air coming into contact with cold surfaces and dropping its moisture.

Causes of frost in attic.

My wife ali and i bought an old house 18 months ago. 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. Remember that polar vortex we had not too long ago where we had 70 degree temperature swings in about 48 hours. When it reaches the cold surface of the roof sheathing and framing it turns to frost.

Without proper attic ventilation in your home you could have a considerable amount of frost accumulate in your attic during the cold winter months. The humid air in your home rises to the top of your home the attic when the temperature gets too low. Frost accumulates in attics when moisture laden air from the house gets up there when it s cold. Frost forms in the attic for one reason heat loss.

Will it cause any harm. During winter conditions attic frost is a problem associated with attic bypasses. Frost in the attic is no different than anywhere else. When the moisture gets into the attic it condenses on the roof.

This frost is the result of warm air rising from the living areas underneath. Ice frost and water in an attic condensation new construction text. 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. What causes frost in your attic.

What causes this frost. The attic is meant to be a cool space in the winter. Heat loss is when warm air and the moisture that joins it from the conditioned living space moves into the attic. Why does frost form in the attic.

Click the following link for an excellent guide to attic air sealing. Last winter i noticed condensation and water droplets on the nails that stick through the roof into the attic. The problem in attics is primarily one of quantity. Water vapor is migrating upward and eventually filtering into the attic.

Well temperature fluctuations like that are a prime culprit for frost in the attic. 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. When the outside temperature rises again the frost thaws water collects and can leak into. 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.

Boxes stored in the attic were sometimes wet. This is bad for several reasons. At times there was ice and frost on the nails. Can i cure it.

The best way to prevent frost from accumulating in an attic is to seal off attic air leaks. What you re looking at is evidence of excessive moisture in your house.