Hi, I am in my second winter in my home I purchased 2 years ago. The home is 9yrs old. I have just recently noticed frost has built up around the baseboard and carpet in the den. I only noticed this because I went to vacuum under the temporary mattress I put down for my brother. The mattress has been on the floor for over 3 weeks. I'm also shocked at how cold the lower walls are near the baseboards. So not only is there frost, but now the carpet is also wet from the frost melting. I have a 2 story house and the den is on the main floor. Also, the other side of the wall in question is the outside. Here are some pics to give you a better understanding of what I mean. Hope you can point me in the right direction.
Thanks.

There are a couple of things going on. One is poor insulation and the sill plate probably doesn't have the thermal insulter on the floor before stud plate. One of the biggest reason is the bed became the thermal brake, The floor and back lower wall was denied heat too much. The bed was the same effect as adding more insulation if front of the wall and the wall insulation has a vapor barriers right on the other side of the drywall and the moisture was trapped at the wall and froze. It would the exact effect if you added insulation on top of old insulation with a vapor barrier in between.
So its weak insulation and the add was bed became a thermal barrier. My biggest concerned is I hope the moisture didn't get past the vapor barrier in the wall cavity. If insulation gets 5% wet is loses 95% of its 'R" value.

Signed 21 boat

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Yep, what he said

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 21boat

There are a couple of things going on. One is poor insulation and the sill plate probably doesn't have the thermal insulter on the floor before stud plate. One of the biggest reason is the bed became the thermal brake, The floor and back lower wall was denied heat to much. The bed was the same effect as adding more insulation if front of the wall and the wall insulation has a vapor barriers right on the other side of the drywall and the moisture was trapped at the wall and froze. It would the exact effect if you added insulation on top of old insulation with a vapor barrier in between.
So its weak insulation and the add was bed became a thermal barrier. My biggest concerned is I hope the moisture didn't get past the vapor barrier in the wall cavity. If insulation gets 5% wet is loses 95% of its 'R" value.

Signed 21 boat

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So what type of trades person do I call to fix this. I am by no means a handyman. I appreciate you assistance. Now if it's as easy as rip down the drywall and vapor barrier, and put up more insulation and put in a new vapor barrier correctly, I may be able to handle that.

Before you call anybody lets try to save some money YEA. Carefully pop your base trim off in that area. Use a flat "roofing bar" it's a small prybar that's flat. After the trim is off I want you to cut out a small section of drywall abut 2 1/2" off the floor and stay below where the top of the trim was. Pencil the top trim on wall lightly to gage height. stay below that 1/2 " Look and see if you see some paper /plastic(vapor barrier) then insulation. Slit the barrier and see if it fells wet of very damp in the insulation. If it does that needs replaced in those sections that are bad and you may need to take more drywall out, Also look at the floor where it meets the wall plate and feel if there is a draft. If so at this point it will need caulked all along the walls. Since the floor reacted that far out is there a crawl space under it? If so that may need addressed. If all is done then close up.

21Boat

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by 21boat

Before you call anybody lets try to save some money YEA. Carefully pop your base trim off in that area. Use a flat "roofing bar" its a small prybar thats flat. After the trim is off I want you to cut out a small section of drywall abut 2 1/2" off the floor and stay below where the top of the trim was. Pencil the top trim on wall lightly to gage height. stay below that 1/2 " Look and see if you see some paper /plastic(vapor barrier) then insulation. Slit the barrier and see if it fells wet of very damp in the insulation. If it does that needs replaced in those sections that are bad and you may need to take more drywall out, Also look at the floor where it meets the wall plate and feel if there is a draft. If so at this point it will need caulked all along the walls. Since the floor reacted that far out is there a crawl space under it? If so that may need addressed. If all is done then close up.

21Boat

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Ok, I will try this and keep you posted. Thanks.

To understand how frost forms, take a look at this table:

File:Dewpoint-RH.svg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Frost forms when the surface temperature (floor) is lower than the dewpoint temperature.

So, you need to know the floor temp and the humidity and temperature of the air.

If the floor is getting too cold. A pad under the carpet would help.
Get a pad with a high R value, but I don't think that's the real problem.

I'll bet that an energy audit (thermal image scan) or even your fingers will reveal too much air infiltration from all of the electrical penetrations. That air will SINK to the ground.

You'll find some insulating products at the hardware store that you can surround the penetrations with. The low voltage stuff may not have a box around them. Remove the plate. Stuff the insulation around the perimeter and put the plate back on.

There are insulating sheets for the electrical outlets that will help some.

Move the mattress away from the telephone/cable/ etc. and I'll bet the problem goes away.