Ventilation in a home simply refers to an intake and exhaust system that creates a proper flow of air. It is estimated that nearly 90% of attics in the United States have improper ventilation that leads to excess moisture and erratic temperatures in their attic system. In this article Roofcorp will discuss the benefits of proper attic ventilation in your home.
What is Roof Ventilation?
Improper roof ventilation can lead to a multitude problems that can end up costing you a penny to get repaired. Proper ventilation can lead to a cooler house in the summer, saving you money on cooling costs. In the winter a properly vented attic can reduce moisture.
Moisture in an attic can lead to numerous problems. The moisture can cause your roofing structure and rafters to swell and warm which can damage other parts of your home. The moisture helps harbor mold and mildew in both your insulation and roofing decks. These can rot your roofing structure potentially compromising your home and can be a very costly fix.
Improper roof ventilation can also lead to ice dams in the winter, ice dams are formed when snow run offs freeze on top of the roof. Ice dams are known to cause shingle damage, warping of the fascia and numerous other headaches.
How Does a Proper Roof Ventilation System Work?
A proper roof ventilation system is not simply just a series of cut outs in a roof. A good ventilation system creates a high volume directional flow of air. The flow needs to remain constant and can be achieved with a solid series of wind and stack effect. Stack effect uses the principle that cool air falls and warm air rises, this combined with wind to create a natural constant cycle of air in a ventilation system.
The roof ventilation system needs to be created around these naturally occurring elements. A proper balance and placement of events allows air to enter and exit your attic creating a dry space with a steady temperature. More vents does not necessarily mean better ventilation. Too much ventilation will allow more moisture to run into the attic space.
To summarize, the mark of a good roof ventilation system is a balance of intake and exhaust that produces a high volume and constant flow of air.
Recent Comments