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.
Frost in attic north side.
As seniors with medical conditions we are worried about mould.
In some cases frost will form on the northside of the attic sheathing and not the south.
During winter conditions attic frost is a problem associated with attic bypasses.
When the moisture gets into the attic it condenses on the roof.
As to the frost there are a few things you can check.
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.
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.
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.
In most cases rolled or batt insulation will have a vapor barrier already attached.
We still have one area in the rafters between the bathroom and a walk in closet that has some frost.
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.
You can t fully eliminate that moisture but you can try to limit it.
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.
Obviously the frost is caused by moisture in the attic air.
How much frost should you have in an attic.
When the outside temperature rises again the frost thaws water collects and can leak into your house.
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.
You can prevent these problems from occurring by maintaining a dry attic with a low relative.
That s about it pretty simple.
Condensation in the attic is a serious problem that must be addressed by homeowners.
If you re further baffled by frost forming on one side and not the others you re probably looking at the north side.
To start frost shows up in the attic when moisture laden air from the house gets into the attic.
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.
