Frost In Attic North Side

To start frost shows up in the attic when moisture laden air from the house gets into the attic.

Frost in attic north side. Obviously the frost is caused by moisture in the attic air. During the day as the sun is out in certain circumstances it will produce enough heat to warm the south side and allow it to thaw and evaporate moisture but the north side will still have frost as it does not get warm enough to cause evaporation. Upon inspection of the attic the entire north face of the attic had frost on the nails poking through and most of the decking boards. During winter conditions attic frost is a problem associated with attic bypasses.

When the outside temperature rises again the frost thaws water collects and can leak into your house. In most cases rolled or batt insulation will have a vapor barrier already attached. As seniors with medical conditions we are worried about mould. There is no snow on the roof.

The insulation on the floor of your attic needs to have an approved vapor barrier installed on the warm in winter side of the insulation. On the vapor barrier the insulation should be labeled at least an r 30. 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. A few years ago we had a lot of frost and a company came in and charged us 250 to spray the exhaust fan and duct to stop leakage.

The sun will sometimes warm the south side enough to thaw and evaporate moisture but leave it still coated on the north side again not a problem unless the ice starts to build up. The frost is on the north side since the south side receives more sunlight over the course of the day during winter in the northern hemisphere. There was also frost on the west wall on the north side of the dormer where the sun doesn t get to it this time of year. You can prevent these problems from occurring by maintaining a dry attic with a low relative.

When the moisture gets into the attic it condenses on the roof. That s about it pretty simple. As to the frost there are a few things you can check. If you re further baffled by frost forming on one side and not the others you re probably looking at the north side.

If left untreated it can damage critical structural elements of the home such as the trusses and rafters ruin insulation damage any stored belongings and lead to the formation of potentially toxic black mold. You can t fully eliminate that moisture but you can try to limit it. Condensation in the attic is a serious problem that must be addressed by homeowners.