water driping from roofing nails inside of ATTIC

[Patpamp]

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I have water dripping from the nails inside of my attic. The attic is vented by a ridge vent, soffit vents (both run the full length of the house) and 2 2X3 wall vents. The heating trunk lines for the upstairs heating (hot air) runs through the attic (they are fully insulated) and the chimney also runs through the attic but is only used to vent the hot water heater. The water is beginning to run down the insulation of our cathedral ceiling and is running down the wall. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks Pat

[Thomas]

Lots of nails? If so, new roofing may be in order.

[Jeff The Drunk]

Call a roofer.

[Tony]

My first guess is that you have way too much ventilation for wintertime. Are the "2 2x3 wall vents" gable end vents? If so try blocking them off. Also block off 3/4 of the soffit vents.

[norminn]

How many nails are dripping water? How old is the roof? All located close to each other? Ice/or snow on roof? I would try, first, to locate the spot on the outside of the roof to see if shingles are broken, warped or missing. Look, also, at any water stains inside roof deck. If the drips are low on the roof and there is snow or ice, it may be ice damming that needs to be removed. Gutters full? Photos might help.

If you have either an old roof or leaks scattered about, you may need a new roof. If you are handy, or have a handy friend, and there is only one defect, can likely either replace a broken shingle or repair protruding nail head(s) and seal them up. Bag up the wet insulation and get it out, then put down a tarp until the leak is repaired.

[Hustlin' Hank]

Just because the water is drippeing from the nails doesn't mean that is where the leak is. The leak will probably be somewhere above that, running down and dripping off the nails.

You have to determine EXACTLY where the leak is. Before you go getting anew roof, check where the vents protrude thru the roof. many times the rubber boots around them crack and leak. Then check the ridge vents and other things protruding thru your roof. If you can't determine where the leak is coming from, then call in a pro.

Hank

[JIMMIE]

Are all the nails wet or just a few, is there a pattern like a streak of nails. This will help determine whether its a leak or condensation.

Jimmie

[JIMMIE]

Sounds a little like mine when the humidifier got stuck ON.

Jimmie

[hrhofmann]

Sounds like condensation if it is driopping from all or most of the nails. The OP didn't say whether this was something new, the first time they were in the house in the winter, etc. OP - Please fill us in with these additional details.

[ransley]

Most all nails? And I bet its not raining and not snow covered but cold. Condensation occurs on the coldest part of a home, like cheap windows or on windows when humidity is high or metal and your nails would be the coldest thing hitting warmer attic air. So if im correct in guessing its just cold out, your attic is undervented for the ampount of heat loss and air infiltration getting into the attic from below. This means sealing and insulating it better. It the wood black , is it a new issue after work was done. Condensation leads to mold, then wood rot, then big big repairs. How thick is insulation, where do you live and what temp is it

[ransley]

It would be the opposite, first you cant have to much as an attic should be at exterior temp, condensation is caused by cold transfering to hot so its undervented or just being heated from below to much, Their heat supply in in the attic and its"insulated" , but not enough.

[sligoNoSPAMjoe]

I agree. The problem is too much moisture condencing on the colder nails. More ventilation will reduce the moisture.

Often this problem develops when a bath fan has been venting into the attic.

[Red Green]

[e-mail] wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Or dryer is venting in the attic, dryer hose separated in the attic, HVAC has a faulty humidifier integrated.

[terry]

[e-mail]:

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Something clearly wrong; if not a roof leak. Sounds like a) Too much humidity and b) Insufficient attic ventilation. Causes can be lack of a vapour barrier in ceiling of the rooms below attic space. Possibly something venting into attic instead of outside. Sometimes done by cheap or ignorant builders. Whatever the cause there is good chance of rot/mould and possible health concerns. Also roofs are expensive! Recommend problem be attended to before a new roof is needed. In this climate the requirement is that there be a minimum of 0.3% (that's 3 square feet per 1000 square feet of floor area) of attic ventilation arranged to provide cross ventilation. In this house, where the roof is 62 feet by 37 feet, and the actual attic some 60 by

33, or about 2000 sq. feet, we have gable end vents and have additional vents along each soffit/roof overhang.

[Tony]

yeah, I was thinking backwards.

[srayner15]

The problem is that your under layment or felt paper more than likely does not have the ability to let the moisture rising up from your appliances tak ing showers etc...the felt traps the moisture trying to escape so it stays in the attic and due to the humidity the moisture attaches to the nails ju st like a coke can you take out of the refrigerator and accumulates until d ripping down...bigger problem is any moisture that does pass through the na ils gets trapped above it because it?s trapped by the non breathabl e felt and it fans out on top of the plywood decking under the felt almost like a trash bag on a wrestler tryin to lose weight quickly..they are calle d cats eyes if there is rot around the nail head inside it?s way wo rse on the top side...change your roof and get a system that will address t hat and increase your ventilation as well

[trader_4]

This is an old thread, the OP and there problem is long gone. But since you re-opened it, if there is excess moisture in that attic, it's not the underlayment that's the problem. According to the description, the attic has a ridge vent, continuous soffit vents. That should be enough to allow proper ventilation through the correct path. Assuming it's excess moisture and not a roof leak, I'd be looking at why there is too much moisture in the attic. Are bathroom vents venting into the attic instead of outside? A dryer hose disconnected and venting in there? Humidity from a humidifier set too high? No vapor barrier on the insulation facing the living space?