The Problem
While in your attic, if you look up visible moisture can be seen collecting on the underside of the roof sheathing. Other telltale signs of excessive moisture are rusty nails, black stained plywood or noticeable drip patterns on the attic floor. All these symptoms tend to occur more in the winter than any other time of year.
The Reason
There may be several reasons for this, but the most common is warm air moving into your attic from the living space below. As you may recall from grade school science, when warm air (which can carry a lot of moisture in the form of vapor) hits a cold surface it condenses and turns to droplets.
The way homes were constructed in the past, no consideration was given to sealing off the attic from the living space. The multitude of penetrations made by tradesman during construction which are now hidden behind sheetrock still allow moist air to move from the living space to the cold attic above.
Another big concern are bathroom exhaust fans. In many homes, instead of being vented to the outside as required by building codes today, it is common to find bathroom fans pushing warm, saturated air directly into the cold attic space above. Literally gallons of water traveling on warm air can enter your attic in this way each day. The change in temperature causes condensation to occur.
The Fix
Fortunately The Pro’s at Energy Geeks have several simple solutions that should end your condensation problems for good. First and foremost, air seal the entire attic floor. All penetrations by tradesman, including plumbing, heating and electrical chases (a conduit usually leading from the basement to the attic) as well as the tops of interior and exterior walls are sealed using a variety of methods including spray foam, caulk and sheet metal. Thus creating a seamless barrier that warm air can no longer penetrate.
Next, the bathroom exhaust fan is properly vented directly to the outside using the latest technology and materials.
Best of all, you may qualify for zero percent interest financing through the EnergyWise and Mass Save Heat Loan Program which can be used for window replacement and other energy efficiency improvements. Combine this with generous utility rebates some of which may cover up to 75% of the cost and it becomes clear that there has never been a better time to act.
