So, earlier this spring, I had a team from a state-run energy audit program come out to my house. They covered 80% of the costs, which was great! The company has awesome reviews, so I felt good about it. They added about a foot of foam insulation to my attic floor. I don't use the attic for anything at all—no storage or anything. They also upgraded the shower vent from the second-floor shower to vent outside. Now, I can't really check the attic myself, but I've noticed a large icicle forming from the shower vent outside, which I don't think was there before. I'm starting to wonder if I made a mistake getting this done. I plan to send them pictures this weekend and ask them to come back and take a look. Can anyone explain what might be causing this water/ice situation at the vent?
5 Answers
Sounds like a normal situation all around! If the insulation helps keep your home comfy and the vent is finally doing its job, you're probably in a good spot overall. Just keep an eye on any icicles and see if you need to make adjustments down the line.
I think the shower vent is probably working as it should now. The cold air outside is causing the moisture to freeze after it vents out. And just so you know, the insulation they put in the attic helps keep the living space below comfortable, even if you don’t use the attic itself. So it sounds like they did what they were supposed to do!
Yeah, it sounds like the humidity from the shower vent could be condensing and freezing outside. That’s pretty common. The warm, humid air from your shower is meeting the cold air outside, which makes the moisture freeze. It's not really anything to worry about; it's just how things work sometimes in winter.
Thanks everyone for the input! I'm not very handy, and Google didn't help much. I really appreciate the feedback!
Honestly, it sounds like you got flanneled, not fleeced! The insulation is definitely a good thing, even if you don’t use that space. I agree with what others are saying—your shower vent might just be functioning properly now, which could be causing those icicles. If it bothers you, maybe check into options to minimize the moisture exiting the vent.
So it's normal to see icicles? That's a relief! Thanks for clarifying!