View Full Version : Condensation on ceilings
Crys81Rog
Dec 12, 2011, 10:34 AM
I've noticed with it getting colder that I have been getting condensation on the ceiling in both my kitchen and one bedroom. I have wooden framed windows and to stop condensation I have sealed them both inside and out using plastic. I thought I was getting a draft. Turns out it did not work. Still Condensation. Went into attic noticed I could see sunlight between flashing and gutter at eve of roof. To try to fix the issue use expanding foam to fix issue until weather broke. Thought that maybe I was getting a draft across ceiling and with heat running now maybe that was the cause of the condensation. NOPE. Didn't work either. Now I went back into attic and noticed between 2 beams on roof condensation is forming and wood is wet. Is in same are around Vent pipe on roof. I'm trying all options to fix this issue but I'm lost as to what to do next.
smoothy
Dec 12, 2011, 11:09 AM
You are SUPPOSED to have ventilation to OUTSIDE in the attic... if you don't you WILL get severe rot.
You get consensation on a COLD surface. What will cure your problems is open the ventelation back up on the evese where the air comes in... and make sure the vent higher up is clear so convection flow will draw cold dry air in when the moist air leaves. YOu want fresh air to come and go freely in the attic summer and winter.
Then insulate properly. I'm willing to guess you have no insulation now... but if you do, just very little, THEN you have to be careful to use unfaced insulation... you put the craft faced side directly against the warm wall only if there is NO existing insulation... and use unfaced if you are adding to existing insulation.
I assume this is a typical pitched roof and not a flat roof.
Crys81Rog
Dec 12, 2011, 01:46 PM
I know there is suppose to be ventilation out of the attic. Both vents in attic are clear. As far as insulation goes I have no issue there the attic is very insulated. Its only one are in the attic that I have noticed the condensation on the under side of the roof. Which is near the pipe vent out of the house. As far as the condensation on the ceilings in the kitchen and bedroom I have come to the conclusion that my gutters need to be taken down and the flashing replaced. I have noticed slight sunlight coming in from outside where the flashing has clearly fallen a little. Thank You for the Response
mygirlsdad77
Dec 12, 2011, 05:44 PM
Do you have a whole house humidifier? If so, I would check the humidity in the home. Sounds like over-humidification. Are your windows also getting frost or water on the inside?
Crys81Rog
Dec 14, 2011, 12:18 PM
I have a dehumidifier running in my basement now. I was wondering if I should pick up another one. I do have water on the window frames which I took as the cold air from outside meeting with warm air inside. Because of that I did place plastic over the windows which has stopped that issue. The only other thing I can possibly think could be causing it is the fact in summer I did notice that some wasp had managed to get behind my flashing and build a nest. With that could I be getting a cold draft from outside through the eve and hitting the ceiling in that area causing again the warm air in the house to meet that draft?
ballengerb1
Dec 14, 2011, 01:38 PM
" I took as the cold air from outside meeting with warm air inside" that is not how condensation happens. Cold outside glass, warm inside glass and high relative humidity. High humidity is condening. I would also inspect the insulation over those two specific rooms since the condensation is not on other ceilings, something is different with these two.