Common Winter Problems with Minnesota Homes
Minnesota winters can be tough on homes. Learn what common problems we see and what you can do about them from our COO, Andy Lindus.
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How Cold Weather Affects Your Roof
In the realm of home improvement, cold weather provides some interesting challenges. Tackling home humidity often leaves homeowners puzzled with what the best approach is. While it can seem like a wise idea, whole home humidity systems often create more problems than they solve because they frequently introduce too much humidity into your home. Consequences of too much home humidity include attic mold, roof decking rotting out, and wet attics. Know that proper levels of home humidity are dependent on what the current exterior temperature is.
One of the first calls came in from a homeowner named Dolly. Her large living room window was only 4-years-old. However, she had begun to notice snow melting off the roof and was trickling in between the glass panes and she wanted to understand what the culprit was.
Unfortunately, when this happens, window seal failure is to blame. When it’s a window this new, most major manufacturers have warranties in place to protect the homeowner and the installing contractor can work to ensure a swift window replacement occurs.
These Installation Techniques Can Prevent Premature Window Failure:
Window Condensation Problems
As a follow-up, another homeowner texted in indicating that their north facing windows get ice freeze-up on the glass inside the home. Once it melts, the condensation spills over to the woodwork creating a mess. They wanted feedback to understand what the culprit was.
Because north-facing windows lack solar heat gain, they have a cooler surface than south facing windows. In this case condensation turns to frost and when it melts, it causes water to drain onto the wood of the windows. While the issue could be the windows themselves, it could also be a cold surface meeting warm air issue.
Garage Temperatures
Next up, was Henry from Blaine. When temperatures dip below zero in his 10-year-old-garage, he often finds condensation on the ceiling and he was curious to know if this occurrence was cause for concern. When this happens, it’s due to warm air coming in contact with a cold surface. In order to address this issue, insulation should be installed and attic air sealing should be examined.
Contact us today to learn how Lindus Construction can help prevent ice dams on your home.
Our team answers homeowner questions every weekend on WCCO 830 AM from 9:00 am-10:00 am. Have your most pressing home improvement questions answered by calling or texting 651.461.9226.
