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General Inspection Discussion This is a place for general discussion about the home inspection industry. Try to keep the posts topical, but they need not be as specific as the other areas of this board.

 
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  #1  
Old 1/13/09, 12:23 PM
James F. McKee's Avatar
James F. McKee James F. McKee is offline
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Default Snow Melt

what causes a snow melt pattern on a roof like this ???
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  #2  
Old 1/13/09, 12:36 PM
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Michael Larson Michael Larson is offline
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Default Re: Snow Melt

What was the view from the attic?

Missing insulation would be my WAG.



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  #3  
Old 1/13/09, 12:57 PM
Dennis R. Goudreau Dennis R. Goudreau is offline
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Default Re: Snow Melt

I agree with Mike
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  #4  
Old 1/13/09, 1:40 PM
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James F. McKee James F. McKee is offline
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Default Re: Snow Melt

actually this was caused by the lazy homeowner who failed to put the insulted cover over the 36 " whole house fan in the upstairs hallway....these fans are great to have much of the year, but sure can be a major cause of heat loss if left uncovered in the winter....



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  #5  
Old 1/13/09, 3:11 PM
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David P. Valley David P. Valley is offline
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Default Re: Snow Melt

I love reading NE roofs with snow on them.

I'll stand outside with my client (before I even go into the house) and I'll tell them what sort of issues I'll find in the attic before I even enter the attic.

It's fun.

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  #6  
Old 1/14/09, 2:21 PM
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Wendell F. Cook Wendell F. Cook is offline
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Default Re: Snow Melt

Quote:
Originally Posted by dvalley View Post
I love reading NE roofs with snow on them.

I'll stand outside with my client (before I even go into the house) and I'll tell them what sort of issues I'll find in the attic before I even enter the attic.

It's fun.

Just don't stand TOO CLOSE! Could be dangerous falling ice!!



Wendell F. Cook, CMI
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Hudson, NY 12534
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  #7  
Old 1/14/09, 4:01 PM
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tneyedli1 tneyedli1 is offline
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Default Re: Snow Melt

Quote:
Originally Posted by jmckee View Post
what causes a snow melt pattern on a roof like this ???
Santa exhaust?
Har-Har!
T.Neyedli
www.alphahomeinspections.ca
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  #8  
Old 1/14/09, 5:21 PM
sspradling sspradling is offline
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Default Re: Snow Melt

Christmas lights in January
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  #9  
Old 1/14/09, 5:42 PM
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Barry Adair Barry Adair is offline
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Default Re: Snow Melt

ridge vents allow warmer air to escape, thus melting the uppermost first

the larger void area may be from a direct vent source in the attic

this is a Texans hypothesis
e.g. don't trust it



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  #10  
Old 1/15/09, 6:13 AM
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David P. Valley David P. Valley is offline
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Default Re: Snow Melt

Quote:
Originally Posted by badair View Post
ridge vents allow warmer air to escape, thus melting the uppermost first

the larger void area may be from a direct vent source in the attic

this is a Texans hypothesis
e.g. don't trust it

Barry,

Jim already answered his own question in post #4.
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  #11  
Old 1/15/09, 8:41 AM
James F. McKee's Avatar
James F. McKee James F. McKee is offline
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Default Re: Snow Melt

Quote:
Originally Posted by dvalley View Post
Barry,

Jim already answered his own question in post #4.
however He did pretty much nail it...not bad for a texan....



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  #12  
Old 1/15/09, 8:42 AM
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James F. McKee James F. McKee is offline
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Default Re: Snow Melt

Quote:
Originally Posted by sspradling View Post
Christmas lights in January
Hey they've been frozen there since Christmas....



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Jim Mckee
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  #13  
Old 1/15/09, 8:51 AM
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David P. Valley David P. Valley is offline
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Default Re: Snow Melt

Quote:
Originally Posted by sspradling View Post
Christmas lights in January
We still have many residents here with their Christmas lights still "ON" in the evening.

I take mine down right after New Years.
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  #14  
Old 1/15/09, 9:43 AM
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Bobby Hamilton Bobby Hamilton is online now
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Default Re: Snow Melt

Quote:
Originally Posted by dvalley View Post
We still have many residents here with their Christmas lights still "ON" in the evening.

I take mine down right after New Years.
Mine are off but they're still buried under a foot of snow or frozen under the ice on the gutters. Guess I'll have a good Easter project taking them down by the time it melts It's 0 degrees without the windchill right now, so I'm not in a hurry to get them down.



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  #15  
Old 1/15/09, 7:29 PM
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William J. Decker William J. Decker is offline
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Default Re: Snow Melt

Even in new, well insulated houses, I regularly see may IC type can lights. Lamp to drywall or attic HVAC ducts not sealed (caulked) to drywall and the IC type can lights will allow warm, moist air to enter the attic area.

Gotta seal the openings to the drywall and seal the cans in the attic.

But, around here, even a perfectly built (no such thing) would form ice dams. Just too much cold and snow.



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