Comments on: A Tale of Two Roofs – Frost, Snow, and Attic Heat Loss https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss/ Building science knowledge, HVAC design, & fun Tue, 18 Jan 2022 13:02:49 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 By: Blake Corcoran https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss/#comment-150 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 19:05:27 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss#comment-150 Thanks for all the great info
Thanks for all the great info! I am a novice at this stuff but I love it. After reading this I started looking at my roof in the morning. I noticed the rafters show more frost than the rest of the roof, but not drastically different. Is this normal? Or does this mean I’ve got too much heat in the attic?

]]> By: Bill Smith https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss/#comment-135 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 21:14:36 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss#comment-135 In reply to Allison Bailes.

As for ice dams and icicles,
As for ice dams and icicles, there were a few cases of people being killed at resorts here in New England in years past. The most common response was to install heat tapes 🙁

]]> By: Bill Smith https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss/#comment-138 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 21:12:26 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss#comment-138 In reply to Allison Bailes.

That’s a field quiz I often
That’s a field quiz I often use with trainees.

]]> By: Allison Bailes https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss/#comment-134 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 20:53:30 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss#comment-134 In reply to David Eakin.

That reminds of a story I
That reminds of a story I heard from someone in New Jersey. He said he once saw an icicle on a large house that was so big it fell and totaled a car in the driveway.

]]> By: David Eakin https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss/#comment-133 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 20:38:51 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss#comment-133 In reply to Bob Ellenberg.

Here, here Bob! The biggest
Here, here Bob! The biggest tell-tale I see are icicles hanging from gutters and roof overhangs. After our recent record-breaking snow here in the mid-Atlantic, our house (which I have been working on for over 3 decades) had no icicles and lots of roof snow pack while my next door neighbor had melted patches in the roof snow pack and icicles almost instantly. And you should see some of the historic residences in the region – icicles that extend from the roof edge (2 stories up) to the ground!

]]> By: Jeremy https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss/#comment-141 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 20:31:52 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss#comment-141 In reply to Allison Bailes.

Northeast Ohio
Northeast Ohio

]]> By: Allison Bailes https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss/#comment-149 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 19:39:55 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss#comment-149 In reply to Gerald McClain.

Gerald, it’s hard to know
Gerald, it’s hard to know whether the radiant barrier roof decking keeps the attic cooler or warmer in winter. On sunny days, it doesn’t let much of the solar heat through, but it will also keep heat that’s already in the attic from escaping. In either case, though, if you have an unconditioned attic, your barrier against heat loss from the home should be at the ceiling level. If it’s airtight and well insulated, the radiant barrier roof deck is irrelevant.

]]> By: Gerald McClain https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss/#comment-148 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 19:34:11 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss#comment-148 Allison
Allison
I have a 6,000sf home with geothermal heat pump system and I have 4 x 8 sheathing with aluminum backing. My home is total electric for heating, cooling, hot water, cooking, and of course electric lights using fluorescent lights on 90% of the lighting. My average electric utility bill is $156 per month. The radiant barrier plywood sheathing helps in the summer to keep my attic cool and my home cool,but in the winter it also keeps the attic cool. Could my radiant barrier plywood sheathing be causing me to have higher electric bills in the winter. I live in Stillwater, OK. Thank you!

]]> By: Allison Bailes https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss/#comment-147 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 19:04:12 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss#comment-147 In reply to Bernie Ward.

It depends on exactly what’s
It depends on exactly what’s going on, Bernie, but insulation and air sealing solve heat loss problems, whether they’re in ceilings, floors, or walls.

]]> By: Allison Bailes https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss/#comment-143 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 19:02:25 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=a-tale-of-two-roofs-frost-snow-and-attic-heat-loss#comment-143 In reply to Dennis Brachfeld.

Yeah, there are many reasons
Yeah, there are many reasons not to use electric resistance heaters to melt the snow.

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