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Thread: Ice/Frost in Attic

  1. #1
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    Default Ice/Frost in Attic

    Poked my head in my attic today... there seems to be a substantial amount of frost and ice build up. I understand some can be normal in deep freezes but seems like a lot.. worried considering the weather that is coming up...

    Is this normal? Is there anything I can do to avoid attic rain in the short term? It’s a mattamy home (oh I know), built 2015. Does this fall under the building envelope NH Warranty?

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  2. #2
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    Seems like more than normal, but probably not enough to really damage anything. Next time you get new shingles, get a couple more vents put in? Check soffit vents not blocked by blown-in insulation.
    Quote Originally Posted by killramos View Post
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    You realize you are talking to the guy who made his own furniture out of salad bowls right?

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    Poor insulation and ventilation is what leads to this. Whats the insulation like on the ceiling and how are the soffits for airflow?

    Heat escapes from below and causes the excessive frost and lack of airflow allows the air to sit and go nowhere.

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    Blown in, prob 8-10” deep insulation? How do I check airflow?

    Either way... something I have to be concerned about right now or see how it fairs in the warmup? Bigger concern is we leave for a month soon
    Last edited by Brent.ff; 01-18-2020 at 07:12 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ExtraSlow View Post
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    Seems like more than normal, but probably not enough to really damage anything. Next time you get new shingles, get a couple more vents put in? Check soffit vents not blocked by blown-in insulation.
    Mainly this. Very little nothing to worry about.
    I'm swamped but I have much to say about this later.
    It's all about the seal on your attic hatches.
    More later.

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    That ExtraSlow dude is one smart motherfucker.
    Quote Originally Posted by killramos View Post
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    You realize you are talking to the guy who made his own furniture out of salad bowls right?

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    That seems a bit much to me... I'd be checking a shower exhaust vent to see if it's somehow come disconnected.... Mind you it's been -30 with 30-60%RH I don't recall seeing that anytime recently... Still seems like alot of humidity for that space.

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    I had a look in mine and it looks about the same. I’ll probly redo my attic seal tomorrow though and look at adding more attic vents

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    How often people going into the attic? Coukd run a bead of caulking around the hatch, right? I haven't looked in mine, but maybe I should.
    Quote Originally Posted by killramos View Post
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    You realize you are talking to the guy who made his own furniture out of salad bowls right?

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    You can use a foam strip around the edge. The hatch cover itself should have VB and then filled with insulation. Wood has zero VB properties on its own. That will remove the biggest source of moisture to your attic. Put a fiberglass batt on top of the batch as well.

    If you're brave enough to go in, you will probably have a couple of holes where electrical is carried up. You can fill those with fire-rated spray foam.

    Attic insulation should be R-50. If not then it should be topped up. Put a batt of fiberglass (being so much lighter than Roxul) on top of the blown-in insulation on each bathroom fan as well.

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    Were noticing alot of builders using screws to suck down the attic hatches now. Loving this idea.

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    Can anybody recommend trusted roofers that can top up insulation and add vents?

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    Adding vents shouldn't have anything to do with this. Neither should adding insulation. Recall that your entire attic cavity is supposed to be as close to the outside temp as possible. That means it's WAY below the dew point of the warm air inside your house. Attic Rain is caused by warm, humid air from inside the living space leaking into the frigid attic and then the instant it touches a cold surface, its moisture condenses and then it freezes if its cold enough. Vents and insulation don't prevent leaks (unless spray foam).
    The most likely culprit is an attic hatch that is poorly sealed or maybe some other poorly sealed holes into the ceiling.
    Check this out for an easy fix. The key is the weather stripping. That prevents your warm air from leaking into the attic.


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    Quote Originally Posted by ThePenIsMightier View Post
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    Adding vents shouldn't have anything to do with this. Neither should adding insulation. Recall that your entire attic cavity is supposed to be as close to the outside temp as possible. That means it's WAY below the dew point of the warm air inside your house. Attic Rain is caused by warm, humid air from inside the living space leaking into the frigid attic and then the instant it touches a cold surface, its moisture condenses and then it freezes if its cold enough. Vents and insulation don't prevent leaks (unless spray foam).
    The most likely culprit is an attic hatch that is poorly sealed or maybe some other poorly sealed holes into the ceiling.
    Check this out for an easy fix. The key is the weather stripping. That prevents your warm air from leaking into the attic.

    I agree that it is due to warm air leak and attic hatch being sealed is step 1. Vents could be an issue if there is not enough air circulation. No way to really stop 100% of the warm air escaping. We did attic hatch and additional vents and our problem is now fixed.

    The photos attached shows some build up but not a crazy amount specially after the week we have had.

    I used Epic Roofing for the work. Found them professional and reasonable rate wise.

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    Thanks guys, ill poke my head up there tonight and see how it's fairing. Definitely some issues on the attic vent, as there was significant ice build up around the hatch. There is a weather strip around the edge, but it appears to be doing a shit job

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    You have to replace that weatherstripping every few years, it doesn't last too long unfortunately.

    Also you should VB around the trim using the blue tuck tape.

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    Poked head in, frost is gone, no water leaks on the roof, but definitely moisture on the top of the blown-in insulation. Some mold growing around the access hatch area from the moisture previously, so not the first time it's happened..

    Looking at the attic vent, the trim definitely has no insulation value at all, so i''ll be filling that with a foam or something. The closet the hatch is in also has a heat vent right below it, so going to close that off (why a vent in a closet, is beyond me)...

    Do i talk to a professional about getting it address properly this summer/fall?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Brent.ff View Post
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    Poked head in, frost is gone, no water leaks on the roof, but definitely moisture on the top of the blown-in insulation. Some mold growing around the access hatch area from the moisture previously, so not the first time it's happened..

    Looking at the attic vent, the trim definitely has no insulation value at all, so i''ll be filling that with a foam or something. The closet the hatch is in also has a heat vent right below it, so going to close that off (why a vent in a closet, is beyond me)...

    Do i talk to a professional about getting it address properly this summer/fall?
    I would do exactly what the guy in that video I posted did.

  19. #19
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    Ya my hatch is already insulated, just not well sealed i think.

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    I've never ventured into my attic because I'm grossed out by spiders/bugs etc. But seeing this thread, I'm gonna take a peek. Also try to pinpoint how to fix my bathroom vent, you can hear it flapping when its windy out.
    Originally posted by GTS Jeff
    You know those bored stay at home moms who's entire lives revolve around driving their kids to soccer, various cleaning accessories, and worrying about neighbourhood rapists? The kind of people that watch the View and go "uh huh..." Those unfulfilled people who try to fill the void in their empty lives by writing whiny letters to the editor complaining about shit that no one really cares about?

    Well imagine if instead of writing that letter to the editor, she just posts on a car forum for car enthusiasts. That's Kritafo.

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