ATTIC RAIN IS ON THE RISE IN ALBERTA THIS WINTER: WHAT IS IT?

Are you seeing water stains on your ceiling and wondering what they may be? Well, Calgary’s unusually cold February is causing headaches for homeowners across the city and those water stains you are seeing are caused by a phenomenon called attic rain.

Why is there Condensation in My Attic?

Attic rain occurs when warm, moist air sneaks into the attic, freezes during cold weather and then melts during warm spells like chinooks, leaking water into the home.

In extreme cases, like this attic, it can be inches thick.

All it takes are a few holes around fixtures such as bathroom vents and lights that have not been adequately moisture-sealed to send warm air into the attic.

Homeowners are encouraged to monitor their attic regularly for excessive frost build up indicating that there is a leak in the building envelope.

What to look for:

· Visual stains of frozen water droplets, frost buildup on attic framing/sheathing.

· Staining around recessed lighting, attic hatches and bathroom fan venting performance.

· Loose sealing through roof sheathing.

· Staining or a yellow discolouration on insulation in attic.

· Visible staining on siding below the soffit area (exterior)

· Attic venting material used, quality of materials and performance.

Tips to Avoid Attic Rain:

· Check to see if your attic is well ventilated.

· Make sure your vents go directly outside and not to your attic.

· Turn down/off your humidifier or you may need to use a de-humidifer

· Turn on your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans while cooking and using the bath/shower

· By operating your central ventilation system during the winter months daily. This will help expel excess moisture from the house that would otherwise migrate into the attic. (this is controlled by a wall switch typically located in the hallway by the thermostat).

Don’t Ignore Roof Condensation Problems!

You might be tempted to ignore a winter roof problem, hoping that once the weather improves, things will sort themselves out. But condensation makes great conditions for mold and rot, and in the worst case scenario, you could end up with roof holes or collapse.

Here is an example of insulation we removed from an attic with condensation.

For any of your roof needs, including help with ice/condensation build-up or ventilation to prevent condensation problems, the experts at T-Manz Roofing are just a phone call away! Give us a call at (403) 452-2492.