Attic Frost & Ice Dams Edmonton
Wet Ceiling After a Warm Spell? Icicles Along the Eaves?
Every Edmonton winter the same problems show up: water spots on the ceiling during a thaw, drips from light fixtures, nails in the attic coated in white frost, big icicles and ridges of ice along the eaves. These are not roof leaks in most cases. They are signs that heat and moisture are escaping from the house into the attic.
What Causes Attic Frost and Ice Dams
Two related problems, one root cause — warm, moist house air getting where it shouldn't:
- Attic frost: house air leaks into the attic and its moisture freezes on the cold roof deck and nail tips
- The thaw: when it warms up, that frost melts all at once and drips through the insulation onto the ceiling
- Ice dams: heat escaping into the attic warms the roof, snow melts, and the water refreezes at the cold eaves
- Bath fans venting into the attic add a lot of moisture fast
- Blocked soffit vents trap the moisture instead of carrying it away
- Thin insulation at the eaves lets heat warm the roof edge
How We Fix It
Inspect in the Attic
We look for frost patterns, staining, wet insulation, and the leaks and fans responsible. Frost tends to be heaviest right above the source.
Remove Wet Material if Needed
Insulation that is soaked or mouldy comes out. Dry insulation can usually stay.
Seal the Leaks
The air leaks feeding the frost are sealed — this is the fix that actually stops it.
Vent Fans Outside, Open the Soffits
Fans ducted outdoors and baffles installed so the attic can clear moisture.
Insulate to Depth
Even coverage, including the eaves, so heat stops reaching the roof edge.
What to Expect After
Why Choose Homestead Insulation
Frequently Asked Questions
Get a Straight Answer About Your Insulation
Tell us what you're noticing — cold rooms, ice dams, frost in the attic, cold floors. We'll tell you what's actually going on.