Condensation on my Cathedral Ceiling !!

[scesnick]

I have a 24ft cathedral ceiling in the livingroom area of my house (log home). yesterday I happened to notice A BUNCH of condensation on the T&G paneling up to the peak of my ceiling. It was pretty humid in my area for the last few days but I built this house in 2001 and this is the first time I have noticed this. It could have happened before but I'm not sure.

My house does have a ridge vent but I thought condensation was from lack of ventilation?? I have no air conditioning at all in my house. It just doesn't get hot enough ( usually) up on top of the mountain where I built. The T&G paneling has R-32 batt insulation behind it in the rafters.
It is hard to explain the layout of my house but the attic runs long ways on only one half of the house. the other half is cathedral. Would an attic vent/fan be a remedy for this problem?

 

[ray66v]

If you have a sudden temperature change, i.e. warm very moist air enters, it can condense on cold surfaces.

This happens in garages a lot, because you can open the door and effect a very fast temperature swing.

Is it possible a scenario with your windows being all opened up at once, and some windy damp air blowing in could have taken place?

 

[dave1949]

That's a new one on me. The condensation is on the ceiling, inside as I understand you. Moving air around with an indoor fan would help I think. Condensation occurs on a cool surface, so venting the attic doesn't seem like it would help. Unless you think the condensation occurs in the attic and drips through to the interior ceiling? How would the cathedral ceiling get so much cooler than the air below it?
Dave.

 

[scesnick]

That's a new one on me. The condensation is on the ceiling, inside as I understand you. Moving air around with an indoor fan would help I think. Condensation occurs on a cool surface, so venting the attic doesn't seem like it would help. Unless you think the condensation occurs in the attic and drips through to the interior ceiling? How would the cathedral ceiling get so much cooler than the air below it?
Dave.

Yes, the condensation is on the inside. I did open a few windows and turn on my ceiling fans and it did evaporate over night.
The cathedral ceiling does not have an attic above it. The attic is beside the cathedral ceiling ( very hard to explain my layout)
I'm just a bit worried that if this continues mold might become an issue.

 

[jinman]

I think I'd consider installing a small 115V window unit somewhere as a dehumidifier to be used in humid weather. That would pull a tremendous amount of humidity out of your house and should stop the problem. Are you sure it's condensation and not a leak? A heavy dew can produce a lot of moisture on a roof. Of course, if it were a leak, you should see it a lot worse when it rains, so condensation is the most likely culprit. Do you have any way of monitoring relative humidity inside your house. That should tell you a bit more info.

 

[scesnick]

I think I'd consider installing a small 115V window unit somewhere as a dehumidifier to be used in humid weather. That would pull a tremendous amount of humidity out of your house and should stop the problem. Are you sure it's condensation and not a leak? A heavy dew can produce a lot of moisture on a roof. Of course, if it were a leak, you should see it a lot worse when it rains, so condensation is the most likely culprit. Do you have any way of monitoring relative humidity inside your house. That should tell you a bit more info.

No, not a leak at all. It was sunny and very nice all day yesterday ( although a bit humid)
I am guessing you are talking about a small window unit A/C. No way of monitoring the humidity right now but I am going to look into it.

So, from what you guys are telling saying I don't need to worry all that much. It is just a hunidity thing and don't need to totally redesign the ventilation in my attic...

 

[/pine]

If the moisture is on the living side of the ceiling I would suggest a ceiling fan or some other way of getting some circulation in the upper portion of the room...

just curious...is ther any air space/venting above the insulation ?

 

[scesnick]

If the moisture is on the living side of the ceiling I would suggest a ceiling fan or some other way of getting some circulation in the upper portion of the room...

just curious...is ther any air space/venting above the insulation ?

I do have ceiling fans and yes there is air space above the insultaion. I put the styrofoam blue rafter vents in when I built the house.
Yes, the moisture is on the living area side. My mom was arguing with me that the roof had a leak and she was continually cleaning up water from the living room this past evening. I guess the fact thatit was sunny and 80 degrees all day didn't mean much to her, she still thought it was leaking. And in a way, she was right !! lol...

 

[Transit]

Any way to get a look at the insulation to see if it is wet? Wet insulation is useless and can damage the rafters. If you do install AC, install it as high as possible, hot air rises.

 

[gotrocks]

I have a 24ft cathedral ceiling in the livingroom

My house does have a ridge vent but I thought condensation was from lack of ventilation?? .

The T&G paneling has R-32 batt insulation behind it in the rafters.

Do you have eave vents between all rafters?
If not then the ridge vent cannot evacuate much hot air.