My Attic Has Frost

Therefore my suggestion is that if one finds frost in the attic one first has to identify which of the three causes is contributing to the problem.

My attic has frost. During winter conditions attic frost is a problem associated with attic bypasses. What ends up as frost in the attic starts as water somewhere else in the house. Many people s first instinct when they notice frost in the attic is to add insulation. Frost in your attic space is a sign that warm humid air is somehow getting into your attic space.

So the short answer is yes this is something you should fix. That s about it pretty simple. Attic frost is the result of conditioned air leaking out of your home in the winter. 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.

If it s due to air infiltration from the living space then air sealing should be the first thing you do not the last. A bathroom vent has been left to pump warm air into the attic. The exhaust from the rooms below gets released into the open air in the attic if not sealed properly causing lots of moisture in the air. Left unchecked moisture in the attic can lead to serious mold and decay expensive to repair and potentially unhealthy for anyone in the house.

See the picture above. When the moisture gets into the attic it condenses on the roof. To start frost shows up in the attic when moisture laden air from the house gets into the attic. It can lead to mold wet insulation and find a way back into the home resulting in water stains on the ceiling.

Where the water comes from.