Condensation in attic?

Laflower · 04/04/2018, 02:50 PM

Im looking for advice I have a 75 gallon fish tank upstairs in the hallway that is used for axolotls...The tank is about half full and the temperature is kept between 58-68F and in the attic at the opposite end of the hallway we are having problems with condensation on the attic ceiling causing frost. Could the fish tank be what is causing this problem even if theres a door that is always kept shut separating the hallway and the attic?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

BoisBlancBoy · 04/04/2018, 04:50 PM

Doubtful it’s the fish tank. Where are you located? If your in a cold climate I’m sure there isn’t any insulation behind the area that is condensating.

saltnewb · 04/04/2018, 05:30 PM

sounds like a bigger issue than the tank, are you topping off alot of water everday , cuz if not than you can pretty much immediately rule it out

Apotack · 04/06/2018, 08:47 AM

Check to make sure bathroom exhaust fans are exhausting to outside the house. Make sure you have good ventilation in the attic and proper insulation between living space and attic space. Most likely not the fish tank

mcgyvr · 04/06/2018, 12:30 PM

No way 40 some gallons of water in a tank is causing problematic humidity issues down the hall.. NO WAY..
Unless this is one of those "tiny houses" built on trailers and "down the hallway" means from my shoulder to wrist length

Laflower · 04/06/2018, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

No way 40 some gallons of water in a tank is causing problematic humidity issues down the hall.. NO WAY..
Unless this is one of those "tiny houses" built on trailers and "down the hallway" means from my shoulder to wrist length

Thanks I didn’t think so but my father in law was insisting I was ruining the attic!! I knew he was full of it! LOL

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

rocsec1 · 04/16/2018, 07:27 AM

I had the problem when I sold my last house. Turned out the bath fans weren’t vented properly.

mcgyvr · 04/16/2018, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocsec1

I had the problem when I sold my last house. Turned out the bath fans weren’t vented properly.

That is quite commonly the reason..
The vent tube isn't taken to the eve vent or other suitable spot so all the bathroom humid air is just dumped into the attic in that local area..

Typically it would be quite easy to see whats causing the problem if one just looks up there..

rhdoug · 04/22/2018, 08:10 PM

From experience here...I would bet your attic is not properly ventilated.

mcgyvr · 04/23/2018, 10:05 AM

^^ Captain Obvious

C. A. M. · 04/23/2018, 04:36 PM

Captain Obvious is correct but it is an easy fix hopefully. Had the same problem above my girls' room. Water was condensing on the rafters and dripping down making water spots on the ceiling.
The &>^*@$$ builder threw up insulation and jammed it over the soffit vents to the outside. Got up there and pulled them away just enough to uncover the vents and problem solved.

rhdoug · 04/23/2018, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C. A. M.

Captain Obvious is correct but it is an easy fix hopefully. Had the same problem above my girls' room. Water was condensing on the rafters and dripping down making water spots on the ceiling.
The &>^*@$$ builder threw up insulation and jammed it over the soffit vents to the outside. Got up there and pulled them away just enough to uncover the vents and problem solved.

My old problem exactly, plus there was no ridge vent. Water dripping in the attic, like being in a cave!!

sbreefer · 04/30/2018, 02:45 PM

being an architect, this is really a building science issue. To everyone's assertion above, you have a moisture issue, likely not the tank causing it. the condensation is always inadequate ventilation, and insulation.
plus one on checking to see if fart fans actually dump to the exterior. if no, make it so.
next, is there a vapor barrier on the warm side of your thermal assembly? such as 6 mil poly.
if no, fix it.
last is there enough insulation up against the ceiling in the attic? if no, water vapor is moving thru insulation from house, hitting dew point and dripping back to drywall.
classic issue.....

04/04/2018, 02:50 PM	#1
Laflower Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 2	Condensation in attic? Im looking for advice I have a 75 gallon fish tank upstairs in the hallway that is used for axolotls...The tank is about half full and the temperature is kept between 58-68F and in the attic at the opposite end of the hallway we are having problems with condensation on the attic ceiling causing frost. Could the fish tank be what is causing this problem even if theres a door that is always kept shut separating the hallway and the attic? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04/06/2018, 08:47 AM	#4
Apotack Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York Posts: 297	Check to make sure bathroom exhaust fans are exhausting to outside the house. Make sure you have good ventilation in the attic and proper insulation between living space and attic space. Most likely not the fish tank __________________ Adam Current Tank Info: 125gal

04/06/2018, 12:30 PM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	No way 40 some gallons of water in a tank is causing problematic humidity issues down the hall.. NO WAY.. Unless this is one of those "tiny houses" built on trailers and "down the hallway" means from my shoulder to wrist length __________________ Who me?

04/22/2018, 08:10 PM	#9
rhdoug Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Dutchess County, NY Posts: 897	From experience here...I would bet your attic is not properly ventilated. __________________ --Randy Current Tank Info: 58 Gallon mixed reef running since 1999, Super Reef Octopus Skimmer, 180w Maxpect Razor LED Light, August 2015 TOTM

04/23/2018, 10:05 AM	#10
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	^^ Captain Obvious __________________ Who me?

04/04/2018, 04:50 PM	#2
BoisBlancBoy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 258	Doubtful it’s the fish tank. Where are you located? If your in a cold climate I’m sure there isn’t any insulation behind the area that is condensating.

04/04/2018, 05:30 PM	#3
saltnewb Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 51	sounds like a bigger issue than the tank, are you topping off alot of water everday , cuz if not than you can pretty much immediately rule it out

04/16/2018, 07:27 AM	#7
rocsec1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Medina oh Posts: 1,782	I had the problem when I sold my last house. Turned out the bath fans weren’t vented properly.

04/23/2018, 04:36 PM	#11
C. A. M. Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 1	Captain Obvious is correct but it is an easy fix hopefully. Had the same problem above my girls' room. Water was condensing on the rafters and dripping down making water spots on the ceiling. The &>^*@$$ builder threw up insulation and jammed it over the soffit vents to the outside. Got up there and pulled them away just enough to uncover the vents and problem solved.

04/30/2018, 02:45 PM	#13
sbreefer Afflicted Reefer Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Steamboat Colorado Posts: 490	being an architect, this is really a building science issue. To everyone's assertion above, you have a moisture issue, likely not the tank causing it. the condensation is always inadequate ventilation, and insulation. plus one on checking to see if fart fans actually dump to the exterior. if no, make it so. next, is there a vapor barrier on the warm side of your thermal assembly? such as 6 mil poly. if no, fix it. last is there enough insulation up against the ceiling in the attic? if no, water vapor is moving thru insulation from house, hitting dew point and dripping back to drywall. classic issue..... __________________ mixed bare bottom reef Current Tank Info: SPS dominated 300g