I have a customer who has had a recurring leak that appears through a recessed light in his kitchen. Part of the ceiling has a roof over it. The house has a new roof on it and the roofer cannot find any problems with his roof (nor can I). The homeowner says that the leak occurs when it gets cold. It has not been cold enough this year to cause ice dams (Annapolis, MD). I’m wondering if it is possible that warm room air is leaking through the light and condensing on the underside of the sheathing. Any thoughts?
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Dave
More than likely you have found the problem.
Sealed insulation contact can may help.
And might not,
is this a vaulted ceiling?
Two more thoughts.
Perhaps a couple of silly thoughts to discount:
Is there any bathroom vent fan ducting nearby that might have a leak in it or end in that area? I know it shouldn't be there, but...
Any chance it could be critter pee? A warm spot to hold up in during cold temperatures.
Two more thoughts.
Perhaps a couple of silly thoughts to discount:
Is there any bathroom vent fan ducting nearby that might have a leak in it or end in that area? I know it shouldn't be there, but...
Any chance it could be critter pee? A warm spot to hold up in during cold temperatures.
critter pee
Had what appeared to be a small leak in an entryway ceiling.It was growing slowly over the last two years (since when we bought the house and have been slowly restoring it). Above was a non-accessible 2' high attic below a shed roof; that roofline above that attic met up to a wall with clerestory windows above (so I assumed the leak was coming at the point where the lower roof met the wall under the windows).
After opening up the attic, turns out years ago the attic had been the nest for an army of raccoons. The "leak" was a particularly large pile of poo that was by a can light. I guess it was heating up each hot humid summer (we're in Maryland) and condensing moisture, and slowly staining the drywall. Two days of insulation removal, air sealing, fixing the non-IC can lights that were buried in insulation since 1976, and blowing in new insulation (easy job with the Attic-Cat system), and I was happy to turn it over to the drywaller/painter to repair.
If not a simple roof/flashing leak or an ice dam then condensation is the main suspect. Can be due to air leaking up around the fixture, or can be due to inside air getting into the attic via another route and condensing on or above the fixture. Any sort of ductwork in the attic would be suspect.
Dave
can light in the ceiling of the kitchen......
In the winter, outside of the bath, the kitchen is one good source of increased humidity. Check that as well. Put a few plants in there with someone who likes pasta or rice......
"Part of the ceiling has a
"Part of the ceiling has a roof over it."
The part of the ceiling that doesn't have a roof over it would be suspect to me.
Other than that I got nothing.
I'm no help to the OP but the post above was amussing.