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#1
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Problem with Attic Moisture
I have been experiencing some moisture in my attic this year and would
like to get some advice on how to solve the problem. What's in my attic: - The attic has a continuos ridge vent with continuos soffet vent along both eaves. The vents seem to be working and there is no insulation blocking the soffet vents. - The attic floor is well insulated with R30 insulation w/ an attach vapor barrier facing the attic floor. - My drop-down attic stairs has a battic door w/ insulation so there shouldn't be any heat leak though the opening. - The bathroom fan is vented through the soffet vent and no air is escaping in the attic - There is a gas hot air furnace in the attic which had some leaking duct work. The leaks have been fixed and some additional insulation has be added to the ducts. I thought by fixing the leaks in the ducts, my problem would be solved, but the North side of the roof still has some moisture. It is a two story house located in eastern MA. The house does not have a lot of humidity (usually around 30 - 45%). and the attic is definitely cold. It has been a rather damp winter in the Northeast, maybe that has something to do with the problem. The only options that I can think of a 1. Add an additional vent where the furnace is located just in case there is some small heat leaks that I missed. (If I do this, I'm worried that this would affect the airflow for the ridge vent) 2. Install an Attic Fan w/ an Adjustable Thermostat and Humidistat with the idea that the humidistat would detect moisture build and vent it out. Any suggestions on what the humidistat should be set at (I'm thinking 45 - 55%) Please let me know if anyone has any suggestions on something else to check in the attic, or what you think of my options and which one would work the best. thanks in advance |
#2
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Problem with Attic Moisture
"pln" wrote in message
oups.com... I have been experiencing some moisture in my attic this year and would like to get some advice on how to solve the problem. When you say "experiencing some moisture", what exactly is the problem? You will always have some level of moisture. Sometimes you will even see small bits of ice forming on the nails that come thru the plywood sheating used for the shingles. This is OK. Please describe what the symptoms are. Everything you described sounds right for venting and insulation except that the vapor barrier is supposed to be on the warm side of the insulation which means between the drywall and the joists of the ceiling of the second floor. The real culprit is definitely the furnace. Some gas furnaces have a condensate that needs to be drained to the outside, usually into a gutter if it's in the attic. -al sung Rapid Realm Technology, Inc. Hopkinton, MA |
#3
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Problem with Attic Moisture
Thanks for the reply Al. The vapor barrier is facing the second floor ceiling so that is ok. The symptons are the nails do have fost on them when it's gets really cold and there is some frost on the plywood sheating. The north side of the roof does have some mositure right by the soffet vents (the affected mositure area is a goes up 2 - 3 feet into the attic). I had the furance checked out and everything is in working order. One thing that I did this summer was to seal the area around the base of the steel stack for the chimney. It did have a mesh area around it that was used for venting but rain was leaking into the attic. The stack does have another vent further up the stack but it is much smaller. Do you think this could be causing the problem? thanks, paul |
#4
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Problem with Attic Moisture
"pln" wrote in message
oups.com... Thanks for the reply Al. The vapor barrier is facing the second floor ceiling so that is ok. The symptons are the nails do have fost on them when it's gets really cold and there is some frost on the plywood sheating. The north side of the roof does have some mositure right by the soffet vents (the affected mositure area is a goes up 2 - 3 feet into the attic). This sounds pretty normal for an attic in New England. Some moisture will inevitably leak into the attic space or it can just be normal ambient moisture from the outdoors. When it's really cold out, it will condense on the nearest cold surface before it has a chance to get vented out. Consider when your car gets frosted up on the outside of the windshield even when there is no precipitation. It's just moisture in the air condensing on a cold surface and there's unlimited venting around your car. That same moisture will frost up the nail heads and the plywood sheathing even in a well vented attic. -al sung Rapid Realm Technology, Inc. Hopkinton, MA |
#5
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Problem with Attic Moisture
Thanks Al, it sounds like everything is working as well as it can.
I may replace the collar around the stack pipe that I sealed up to get some more ventilation in the attic Regards Paul |
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