Ice Dams? Water Leaking into Your Home? You Could Have Frost in Your Attic

Most homeowners don't even know they have frost in their attic. The first signs of an issue in the attic can be ice dams, or a buildup of ice on your roof and the eaves troughs, and  water leaking into your home. Caused by moisture, frost inside an attic can occur when air leaks into the space and condenses. By itself, frost is harmless – but melting frost becomes water. And, inside your attic, water damage can result in mold, damaged roof sheathing and other structures, stains, and wet insulation. Certain damage can be disastrous or irreparable, so frost in your attic should be treated promptly. Find out more about this issue and how you can combat it below.

What Causes Frost in the Attic?

Air which escapes through attic bypasses is the technical cause of frost, but there are also underlying issues that cause these leaks. Here are a few examples of issues that may lead to leaks:

·         Improper drainage

·         Poor exterior air circulation

·         Faulty furnaces, stoves, or water heaters that create vapor from improper combustion (this can cause negative pressure and carbon monoxide, which should be addressed immediately)

·         Plumbing leaks

·         Whole-house humidifiers

·         Inadequate kitchen and bathroom ventilation that filters air instead of removing it

·         Inadequate insulation

What Makes Frost Worse?

Frost inside the attic is an issue in itself, but some circumstances can exacerbate it. Interior air pressure and exterior humidity are two factors that can contribute to more extensive damage from air leaks and frost accumulation – here’s why.

Air Pressure: Pressure commonly occurs in homes that have a combustion air duct connected to a return plenum. In these homes, warm air from the furnace causes pressure, leading to or increasing the severity of air leaks. Fortunately, this issue can be prevented by making sure the combustion duct is dropped into the attic instead of connected to a return plenum.

Air pressure can also be caused by unbalanced ductwork, as is the case with too many return vents. To prevent unbalanced ductwork, simply seal any holes and additional vents in the ductwork.

Humidity: A humid exterior creates a humid house. And, humidity during the winter causes moist air to become frost. Since air rises and escapes through the attic, frost is usually found there. There are two simple ways to combat wintertime humidity: 1) turn off the humidifier, and 2) use the exhaust fan in the kitchen and bathroom.

Preventing Frost

Inspecting the roof and sealing air leaks are really the only ways to prevent frost accumulation, and for this you need to call professionals in residential roofing. Edmonton homeowners who call WeatherProof Roofing can have their roof inspected and we will seal any leaks that we find, as even the smallest leaks can cause moisture buildup.

If you're worried about frost in your attic, contact us for an inspection. Don't delay! Taking action at the first signs of an issue is the best way to prevent the need for larger, more costly repairs.