Service Door Ice/Frost

[Bigshow0003]

The service door on my shop is a steel frame, steel door, 36". The building is heated at 50 degrees all winter. R19 walls covered by OSB and 3" spray foam on the roof deck. Modine Hot Dawg 75 Heater.

As you'll see in the pics, during cold snaps the door ices up. I get a pretty good layer of frost/ice all the way around. The pics were taken during a cold 10 degree day, not a bitter cold -20 day. Obviously the problem is worse the colder it gets.

I am trimming the shop out now with 1x3 Pine. I plan to trim the door out (1x6 pine) as well but I am concerned with the level of frost/ice that appears on the door. Wouldn't this ruin/rot the trim? Any thoughts/suggestions/remedies?

Temporarily, the fix has been to keep a fan blowing on the door. The helps significantly but is annoying to move a big fan every time I go in and out.

So has anyone else had this problem? Thanks!!

 

[LS6 Tommy]

You probably need a thermally broken door. It's conducting the cold in and condensing moisture on the steel.

Tommy

 

[The Cobbler]

is that a commercial hollow metal door? is it insulated?
looks like the styrofoam insulation has missed the edges of the door. I think that's pretty common. maybe drill some holes top & bottom & shoot some sprayfoam into the edges?

 

[Bigshow0003]

Good questions - My building contractor knew the building was going to be finished on the inside and heated.
Floor drain, insulated OH door, insulated slab, etc were all discussed knowing the building would be heated... but not discussed was the service door. Shame on me for that.
I assumed, that based on all our conversations, an insulated service door would be used. I'll have to find out the specs on that.

 

[steaks&anvils]

If this is a commercial door, there may be a plate or sticker with the door's information (make, model, fire rating etc). This plate is usually on the hinge side/edge of the door (out of sight unless you open the door and look for it).

There may be insulation rating information there.

 

[puttinonthekritz]

Check out doors by Plyco. Variety of steel insulated frames, doors, and weather sealing. Pretty sure they’re made in Wisconsin too.

 

[kbs2244]

Is your heater vented ?

 

[Showkey]

Frost on a metal door is not all that unusual under some winter weather conditions.

 

[Bigshow0003]

Yes, the heater is vented. Humidity level in the shop stays around 40%.

I will check for the name plate/specs on the door.

 

[Dustball]

The door itself may be insulated but it looks like the door frame is not- just hollow stamped sheet metal. Not much you can do about that at this point.

 

[nadogail]

The door itself may be insulated but it looks like the door frame is not- just hollow stamped sheet metal. Not much you can do about that at this point.

Can you drill and foam a hollow door frame?

 

[Showkey]

Back to normal under the right conditions:











Frost on patio door frames, on glass, any door threshold especially if the seals and gaskets are not perfect.

Warm the door, that may just make puddles and cost money in fuel. Insulate and seal, check for air leaks but realize under certain conditions it’s not going to change.

 

[kbs2244]

I like the drill a hole for foaming the inside idea

 

[Bigshow0003]

So it is a Plyco door. There is a stamp but it doesn't give R-value of the door anything.
I pulled a couple screws out of the door frame, and some insulation came with them. Appears to be a spray foam type insulation inside, so the door frame is definitely insulated. Door seals/gaskets are good and tight too.

With the door already insulated, I'm not sure what other options I would have? Thanks for all the feedback so far!

 

[doctordirt]

Now that you know the brand, how about a call to manufacture to see if they have run into this before and what solutions are available.

 

[Bigshow0003]

According to the specs on Plyco's website, the door and frame are insulated to R13. I'm awaiting a call back from one of their engineers.

But back to the original question - I probably shouldn't trim the door out this way, correct? Because the frost will soak into the trim, thus creating mold/rot I assume.

 

[65ranchero]

If you trim out and worry about rot/mold why not use PVC trim.
Yea, I know cost more but you're only gonna do it once.
Looks like you have 2x framing around the door so that will also soak up the moisture
Of course it's better to take care of the frost issue 1st.

 

[nh_yota]

If you trim out and worry about rot/mold why not use PVC trim.
Yea, I know cost more but you're only gonna do it once.
Looks like you have 2x framing around the door so that will also soak up the moisture
Of course it's better to take care of the frost issue 1st.

I agree, just trim it in PVC.