Air Handler Warms Attic During Winter Ice Dams

Ice dams are a common side effect of poor attic insulation during the winter and icicles on the edge of your roof are an obvious warning sign.

Air handler warms attic during winter ice dams. A well ventilated attic during the warmer months helps cool the attic down. The attic temperatures eventually exceed the external temperatures increase the chances of ice dams. Heat from living spaces can rise into the attic. Rapid melting water flows to gutters where it then freezes blocking further drainage and causing what is commonly referred to as an ice dam.

In warm climates it is common practice to run heating and air conditioning ducting through attic spaces simply because it is easy to do. Warm air naturally rises and will find its way in the attic if there is room to pass through. This heated air warms your roof causing snow or ice above to melt too rapidly. Also it should go without saying that a dehumidifier won t help one pinch to prevent ice dams.

What causes ice dams. The outdoor air is cold and dry. During the winter the indoor air is warm and humid. Unfortunately this practice is all too common in our northern cold climate putting air conditioning ducts in the hottest possible place in the house during the summer and putting heating ductwork through the.

During the winter it helps to reduce moisture to keep attics dry which prevents ice dams and mold. If the ducts themselves have a leak or if they are insufficiently insulated the leaking heat can cause an ice dam. Attic insulation and air sealing can help stop ice dams from forming icicles on the roof are a warning sign of insulation problems and ice dams. Some older homes have bathroom or kitchen exhaust fans that blow warm and or moist air into the attic.

Exhaust vents placed high on the roof allow warm moist air to be pushed up and out of the attic. In many homes heating ducts run through the attic to reach other parts of the home. On a hot summer day the sun hits the roof travels through the sheathing and heats up the attic space. There will always be some water vapor on your little patch of the 75 percent water earth.

Gaps into the attic usually caused by insufficient or improper attic insulation cause this warm air to get into and settle in the attic. But drying out the air will only accomplish so much. A powered roof vent or attic fan is an affordable solution that can dramatically improve ventilation and minimize ice dams in winter and prevent heat from building up in your attic in summer. Yes in order for your house to stay cool or warm and have good airflow the attic itself needs good airflow as well so that hot air can escape out of the house during the summer and cold air can get into the attic during winter to prevent ice dams from forming and causing damage.

To learn more about solving ice dams see prevent ice dams with air sealing and insulation. Intake vents include soffit or eave vents that allow fresh air to enter the attic. Proper ventilation includes intake and exhaust vents.