Frost In Attic North Side

Condensation in the attic is a serious problem that must be addressed by homeowners.

Frost in attic north side. 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. When the outside temperature rises again the frost thaws water collects and can leak into your house. That s about it pretty simple. We still have one area in the rafters between the bathroom and a walk in closet that has some frost.

As seniors with medical conditions we are worried about mould. You can t fully eliminate that moisture but you can try to limit it. In most cases rolled or batt insulation will have a vapor barrier already attached. 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.

How much frost should you have in an attic. Obviously the frost is caused by moisture in the attic air. 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. On the vapor barrier the insulation should be labeled at least an r 30.

If you re further baffled by frost forming on one side and not the others you re probably looking at the north side. There is no snow on the roof. 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. 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.

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. 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. When the moisture gets into the attic it condenses 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.

You can prevent these problems from occurring by maintaining a dry attic with a low relative. In some cases frost will form on the northside of the attic sheathing and not the south. As to the frost there are a few things you can check.