Up to 1 in 5 homes in the UK are affected by bad roof condensation. It’s a problem that often goes unchecked, leaving homeowners with huge bills in installation and construction work to fix the problem. Although it’s a much more of a prevalent problem in Autumn and Winter, condensation in a roof space can build up over the warmer months too, which is why it’s a good idea to have your roof checked out before too much damage is done.
Here is some information about the causes of roof condensation, how to spot it and how to avoid it in the future.
What causes roof condensation?
Condensation forms in a roof or attic space due to moisture. Moisture-laden air can develop when warm moist air inside a house rises up to the roof and comes into contact with cooler outside air or cold surfaces. The sudden cooling of the hot air is what causes condensation issues to occur.
There are a few factors that can cause excess moisture and condensation problems to develop. The first culprit is roof insulation. Whilst it keeps your house nice and warm and reduces heat loss over the colder months, it can stop your property ‘breathing’, effectively causing humid air and making it more prone to developing water droplets and condensation. It is important to check the insulation in your attic space is installed properly to avoid excess moisture in the air.
Uninsulated roof hatches can also cause problems by letting moist air in from the rest of your home. It can enter your loft and condense on any cold surface before seeping through the ceiling. Sometimes the first you know of a condensation problem is the appearance of a water spot or water stain on your ceiling or, in the worst case scenario, water dripping down from your roof cavity.
Inadequate ventilation in general is a huge cause of roof condensation. Older buildings in particular don’t tend to have necessary ventilation systems and are more vulnerable to poor ventilation and attic condensation problems.
What are the signs of roof condensation?
If you’re concerned that you could have signs of condensation in your roof void, it’s a good idea to first check your loft insulation.
To check the effectiveness of your roof insulation, here are some quick tests to do:
- Go into your loft space and take the surface temperature. If it is much warmer than the outside temperature, it is overly insulated.
- Can you see your rafters on a frosty morning? If not, your attic is melting the frost through the air vents and is too warm.
- Check if your vents are overgrown with moss. This can prevent air escaping your loft.
- Make sure your bird blocks (if you have some) are not obscuring your vents.
Other signs of a condensation issue include dripping water from light fixtures, skylights or air vents, or doors and windows that won’t close properly. If a condensation problem isn’t properly identified and fixed, it could cause significant damage.
How to prevent roof condensation
As we’ve already discovered, good ventilation is key to avoiding roof condensation. Allow your loft to breathe by double checking your insulation isn’t pushed directly against the eaves of the roof and installing some longtail eaves ventilation to reduce the amount of moisture in your loft.
You can prevent warm air rising into your loft by reducing the amount of steam and air leakage produced by domestic activities. Avoid opening the bathroom door straight after hot showers, place lids on your pans whilst cooking and try to dry your clothes outside when possible. If you have a vented tumble dryer, make sure that it’s been properly vented to an outside wall or an open window. Make use of any extractor fans you have in your home, for example in a bathroom or kitchen.
Investigate new loft hatches that are properly insulated and sealed off from the rest of the house and when you do use your loft hatch, remember to close it again after.
If you see patches of condensation appearing, always wipe them away. If you have slotted vents in your window frames, make use of vents and keep them open when rooms are inhabited. This is the case even in the winter when you have heating on as it can help remove excess water vapour and too much moisture in the air.
If you experience a bad attic condensation problem, signs of water damage, water spots and water leaks, the use of humidifiers can help dry out the air and remove excess moisture.
Summary
Unfortunately, you can’t do anything to prevent cold weather or cold air from occuring, but by being aware of the impact of outside temperatures and how to rectify roof insulation problems, you can hopefully reduce the risk of a more major problem developing.
For more roof-related posts, check out:
Why getting a roof inspection before buying a home is crucial
What to consider before renovating your roof
Roofing ideas for a modern home
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