Attic Condensation and How to Identify Problems

The Effects of Attic Condensation in Your Home

This winter has brought extremely cold temperatures and tons of snow in the Twin Cities. Most of us cannot wait for some relief (aka spring and warmth)! One thing to note is that as the days get longer and the mercury ever so slowly rises, the thawing causes problems in itself. One such issue is attic condensation and how to identify problems.

The cold weather this winter in Minneapolis and the surrounding areas caused many homes to see frost buildup on the underside of their roof sheathing. This is not a workmanship issue but instead, one of the problems caused by the extreme cold that is more bitter than your roofing materials are rated for. The frost does not cause a problem – until the outside air starts to warm up and that frost starts to melt. That’s when attic condensation must be dealt with.

So your attic gets a little bit of moisture in it, no big deal right? Well, moisture and wood aren’t the best of friends and over the years when your trusses, sheathing, and other sections of the roof keep getting exposed to water, they are eventually going to lose stability.

There are also concerns about the mold caused by water in the home. Mold tends to spread and can start affecting air quality in the home. Damaged building insulation from moisture problems can result in higher energy costs. Identifying any attic condensation concerns are important to help prevent additional damage.

How to identify attic condensation and how to identify problems

If you suspect there is any condensation in your attic or would just like an attic inspection, contact your local insulation company. A field rep can easily go into the attic space and inspect for any condensation or what appears to leak. If the outside temperatures are still bitterly cold, you’ll be able to notice that a layer of frost may still be visible from inside the attic, underneath the roof sheathing.

You don’t even need to go into the cold attic to know if there’s a problem with heat loss, condensation, and other related issues. When the heat rises into the attic, it melts the snow near the top of the roof. That snow melts and runs down the roof, but refreezes when it gets to the edges. If you have ice dams or an excessive amount of icicles hanging from your roof, there is likely a condensation problem in the attic.

Call Snap Construction for an inspection and repairs

Snap Construction can safely remove ice dams from your home if they have formed and we can also identify the root cause of your attic condensation. Whether you need an insulation upgrade or ice dam removal, we are here to help. We recommend addressing any of these concerns as soon as possible. As the temperatures warm up, it can cause excessive melting which can cause damage to both the interior and exterior of your home.