Has anyone gotten there attic insulated recently? I just had a company here (Master Attic) give me an estimate for removing old insulation and installing new insulation. I currently have an older insulation that is about 4", the new stuff would be a Owens Corning R30 16". The reason I am considering having this done is a few weeks ago when we had the rapid temp change on Christmas Eve from 55F to 8F a few days after I noticed some marks on my ceiling in spots where it meets the wall. My roof is not that old so I dont think thats the problem. I was thinking this was from condensation? When I was in my attic I did notice some of the baffles not properly installed and some gaps in insulation. Also if I felt the nails coming through the roof they had moisture on them.
Looking for any feedback if anyone had this done recently.
I'm posting a link and some info from a pretty good website. In short, it sounds like you may have a ventilation issue. Your attic should be cool in the winter. Ideally, your soffit vents should be in flow communication with your ridge vent(s) or gable vents so that there is an adequate flow of air from low to high. You said that some baffles were improperly installed. This happens a lot, or when someone does work in the attic or adds insulation to fix a problem, they may exacerbate the problem.
We have a very low pitched roof, and we had insulation banked up to the soffits, blocking the flow of air. It took some crappy work, but I basically made my own baffles with 5/4 X 3" X 8' furring strips. They are cheap. I took two or three strips and patted down the insulation, and in some cases "pried" the insulation down to let the air from the soffits to flow up to the ridge vents. That cured the problem in our case.
You should also check all of your ceiling penetrations, particularly high hat/recessed lights to see how much warm air is getting into your attic from your living space. Another issue we had was that the old owner vented the bathroom fan into the attic. Check to see your bathroom vent fans and other vents (dryer, if applicable) are not leaking warm/moist air into the attic.
It seems from other posts you are fairly handy. An insulation company will sell you insulation, and they may not address the basic issue of ventilation and the attic breathing. you can put more insulation where you need it for a lot less.
Long post from link below:
Water Spots on the Ceiling But No Roof Leak?
You’ve inspected your attic and have not found any evidence of a roof leak. Let’s talk ventilation.
The issue could stem from vented fans, heat loss, or improperly ventilated appliances. Any of these can create the perfect mix of moisture for your home to develop condensation stains.
Properly Vented Attic
If you notice any condensation inside your attic then you are experiencing a ventilation issue. This could stem from ice dams to other ventilation issues. With condensation present in your attic, there needs to be a remedy to remove it before real problems start to set in.
The condensation could appear from frost forming in your attic. Frost can form when warm, humid air finds its way into the attic space. This could come from improper venting of appliances into the attic space or an air leak where heat can get into the attic. This could be with the chimney, ceiling light fixtures, plumbing, and more.
Appliances Vented
You might have had an experience where someone “fixes” a problem but in all reality, they are making a much larger mess than before. Appliance venting can easily fall into this category. Always consult the instructions for proper venting techniques and always read up on code requirements to ensure that you are keeping your home safe.
Cooktop Exhaust
Cooktop ventilation depends on state code requirements so please consult your local code to ensure that you are venting properly. However, under no circumstances should your stove vent into the attic. The vent will push hot and humid air into the attic and will cause mold damage. The hot air will keep your attic warm. This will create condensation on your ductwork and create a condensation stain randomly in your house.
Dryer Venting into the Attic
A dryer vent can go through the attic and exit through the wall or roof. A clothes dryer vent cannot end in the attic. This means that most code does not allow for a dryer to pump hot air into the attic. The air that is removed from your clothes dryer is damp and hot. Your attic will develop mold and will rot the framing.
Bathroom Exhaust Ventilation
Is the bathroom air hot? Yes.
Is the air humid? Big time.
Should it vent into the attic? Absolutely not.
All bathroom exhaust needs to exit outside of your home.
