Attic rain is a common problem in Calgary and can cause serious water damage to your home. It occurs when air leaks into your attic and moisture from the indoors collects, freezes, and eventually vaporizes as frost or ice on the ceiling.
This is usually caused by drafty areas in the house such as doors, windows, walls, and vents. Sealing these areas can help reduce the amount of moisture that escapes into the attic.
If you notice dripping in the attic and spots of leaking on your ceiling, call an insulation company to inspect your home. The professionals at Details Insulation will be able to identify the source of your problems and fix it before it causes more damages in the future.
Typically, attic rain is due to the warm air from your home leaking into the attic, encountering cold air in the attic and freezing into ice or frost. This ice or frost accumulates on the roof and rafters until it melts and drips on your ceiling and into your insulation, which is what causes attic rain.
When this happens, the water stains and spots are not only annoying but they can lead to serious water damage in your home. Mold can also develop in the resulting water that drips into your home if it’s not dealt with immediately.
To prevent this from happening, have your vapor barrier and other insulating materials installed properly to avoid leaks into your attic space. This can help to eliminate attic rain and prevent the development of black mold, which is a toxic fungal growth that is very difficult to remove.
Another common issue that can cause dripping in the attic http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/why-are-rubber-roof-installations-beneficial-for-calgary-properties/ is a broken or cracked chimney liner or flashing. This can allow heat to escape through the liner or crack and cause a buildup of moisture and heat inside your attic space.
This can cause significant water damage to the interior of your home and even cause your home to lose its value. If you have a broken or cracked chimney liner or other flashing, have the repair work done as soon as possible to prevent further damage from dripping in the attic and water leaking into your home.
Attic rain is very common in homes with poor insulation and a hot attic. Older, poorly insulated homes tend to have more heat loss into the attic which will eventually “burn off” any existing frost before it has time to form.
Newer, more insulated homes have much less heat loss into the attic and therefore will freeze any moisture before it has time to cause any damage.
Once the ice has formed, it can be extremely dangerous to climb up your attic and remove the ice. If you attempt this on your own, you can seriously injure yourself or even die.
Ice dams on the edge of your roof can be a serious problem, and they are more likely to occur in icy weather. These dams can block melting snow from draining off the roof and cause water to back up behind them. This water can seep into your attic and eventually make its way into your home and cause water damage, drywall damage, and mold issues.