signs of poor attic insulation?

jwxr7 · 01-23-09, 02:56 PM

This identifier probably only applys to people in places that get snowy enough roofs.

I notice many older homes and businesses in my area have huge ice formations that go all the way to the ground . Some have ice to lesser extents. There usually isn't as much snow left on the roof deck. It all melts and dams up over the overhange. The newer or updated homes don't seem to have this problem.

Does this seem like a good indicator of heat loss (and attic insulation)?
How does your roof look?

I don't have any ice hanging around the edges and the snow just keeps piling up on my roof. In fact I just busted up and removed a good portion of the drift in the picture. I do know that more insulation would be even better though

.

Daox · 01-23-09, 03:11 PM

I think its a pretty good sign. Here is my house and you can see that the eves have more snow on them than the middle part.

You can also tell that my walls are loosing heat here.

Higgy · 01-25-09, 10:20 AM

Well, I think even new houses aren't always insulated correctly. I still think there's something wrong with mine. As you can see, my roof has no snow on the tip top, and it's hanging over the side of the roof.

Anyone have any suggestions. It's blown in throughout the house except over the garage which is fiberglass insulation which I did in the summer.

Daox · 01-25-09, 10:50 AM

How windy has it been by you? Maybe that has something to do with it? Maybe get some pics and tell us what you got for insulation in the attic (how many inches of cellulose)?

Higgy · 01-25-09, 11:44 AM

Well I won't be going up there any time soon, so it'll have to wait till the summer time.

But I think there's only about 12" of cellulose. Should probably get them to blow in another 12" and build it up.

jwxr7 · 01-26-09, 07:29 AM

Higgy, I wouldn't be too worried about what I saw on your roof. I don't see any ice, which would be a telltale sign of snow melt and lots of heat loss. Lack of snow is probably from wind, mine gets that way in places. My unheated barn has snow missing in places similar to my house, and I know the barn isn't melting it off from heat loss. So compare snow cover on your home to unheated buildings in your area . The pic below is of my in-laws house and is typical of older houses in the area. There is surely heat being lost thru that roof

.

Daox · 01-26-09, 07:34 AM

WOW, thats bad!

You make a very good point about the ice build up jwxr7. I can't see any on Hig's house.

jwxr7 · 01-26-09, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Higgy

Well I won't be going up there any time soon, so it'll have to wait till the summer time.

But I think there's only about 12" of cellulose. Should probably get them to blow in another 12" and build it up.

That may be more than I have.
I need to check the thickness of mine, I have a bunch of bags of cellulose up there that I've been meaning to toss around. A guy at work tore open some walls in his new construction house and bagged up the insulation. He didn't want to reuse it, so I took it thinking I could add it to my attic. It would be neat to somehow convert a shop vac or something so it could blow that stuff around

. Anybody have ideas or experience with DIY blower for insulation?

Daox · 01-26-09, 07:41 AM

I would think as long as you can prechop it up, funneling it into a shop vac would work just fine. Probably won't be nearly as powerful as a full industrial blower, but worth a shot. Should start a new thread on this and see if others have any ideas.

jwxr7 · 01-26-09, 07:42 AM

I'm going to try getting some shots of extreme cases of heat loss in my area and post them here.

01-23-09, 02:56 PM	#1
jwxr7 Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: mid michigan Posts: 191 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	signs of poor attic insulation? This identifier probably only applys to people in places that get snowy enough roofs. I notice many older homes and businesses in my area have huge ice formations that go all the way to the ground . Some have ice to lesser extents. There usually isn't as much snow left on the roof deck. It all melts and dams up over the overhange. The newer or updated homes don't seem to have this problem. Does this seem like a good indicator of heat loss (and attic insulation)? How does your roof look? I don't have any ice hanging around the edges and the snow just keeps piling up on my roof. In fact I just busted up and removed a good portion of the drift in the picture. I do know that more insulation would be even better though . Attached Thumbnails

01-23-09, 03:11 PM	#2
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I think its a pretty good sign. Here is my house and you can see that the eves have more snow on them than the middle part. You can also tell that my walls are loosing heat here. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-25-09, 10:20 AM	#3
Higgy The Gardener Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manitoba - Canada Posts: 492 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	Well, I think even new houses aren't always insulated correctly. I still think there's something wrong with mine. As you can see, my roof has no snow on the tip top, and it's hanging over the side of the roof. Anyone have any suggestions. It's blown in throughout the house except over the garage which is fiberglass insulation which I did in the summer. Attached Thumbnails

01-25-09, 10:50 AM	#4
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	How windy has it been by you? Maybe that has something to do with it? Maybe get some pics and tell us what you got for insulation in the attic (how many inches of cellulose)? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-26-09, 07:29 AM	#6
jwxr7 Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: mid michigan Posts: 191 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Higgy, I wouldn't be too worried about what I saw on your roof. I don't see any ice, which would be a telltale sign of snow melt and lots of heat loss. Lack of snow is probably from wind, mine gets that way in places. My unheated barn has snow missing in places similar to my house, and I know the barn isn't melting it off from heat loss. So compare snow cover on your home to unheated buildings in your area . The pic below is of my in-laws house and is typical of older houses in the area. There is surely heat being lost thru that roof . Attached Thumbnails

01-25-09, 11:44 AM	#5
Higgy The Gardener Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manitoba - Canada Posts: 492 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	Well I won't be going up there any time soon, so it'll have to wait till the summer time. But I think there's only about 12" of cellulose. Should probably get them to blow in another 12" and build it up.

01-26-09, 07:34 AM	#7
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	WOW, thats bad! You make a very good point about the ice build up jwxr7. I can't see any on Hig's house. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-26-09, 07:41 AM	#9
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I would think as long as you can prechop it up, funneling it into a shop vac would work just fine. Probably won't be nearly as powerful as a full industrial blower, but worth a shot. Should start a new thread on this and see if others have any ideas. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-26-09, 07:42 AM	#10
jwxr7 Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: mid michigan Posts: 191 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I'm going to try getting some shots of extreme cases of heat loss in my area and post them here.

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