Ventilation is an essential part of home construction. Whenever a home is built, there are certain construction steps taken to ensure there is proper airflow to keep the house from becoming stuffy or freezing in the winters. Of these one of the most important to consider is attic ventilation. The purpose of attic ventilation is to create circulation inside your attic space so that hot air can escape through rafters, ridge vents, and other types of vents built into the roofline.
The extreme heat in the attic can also cause moisture to build up on the underside of boards or rafters and then lead to mold spores.
Lack of proper ventilation can also cause damage to your roof and walls over time by stressing them out too much from all the trapped heat.
How it works
Attic ventilation is an essential element of any insulation system. They include two key parts: the exhaust system and the intake/return system.
Made up of soffit vents, gable vents, and ridge vents – the system works together to provide a constant airflow through the attic.
The soffit intake is the space between your roof and the soffit running along each side of your home. This is where air enters the attic.
The gable vents are located in the gable end of the roof and should be open when the attic is hot and closed when the attic is cold, so depending on what season it is and whether you need to cool or warm your house, you might need to adjust their position accordingly.
The gable end vents are located on either side of a gable end wall, where two sloping sides meet at an apex (i.e., peak). They allow hot air to escape from within your attic, helping to prevent overheating and moisture buildup in this area of your home.
In general, the amount of air that should be vented through your attic depends on the climate you live in and the size of your attic. The more ventilated your attic is, the more efficient it will be at cooling and dehumidifying (or heating and dehumidifying) because hot air from inside can pass through the walls of your home.
Understanding your home and the climate you live in is important for having the proper attic ventilation system in place. During hot summers having a well-ventilated attic area will keep the moisture and heat from getting out of control. In colder areas where freezing temperatures are present having proper ventilation in your attic will protect your dwelling from ice dams forming on roofs and causing heavy loads to sit atop the structure.
If you’re looking for a way to improve your home’s long-term energy efficiency, then attic ventilation is one of the easiest ways to do so. It will help you save on your monthly utility bills and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time.
At Brodeur Roofing we are experts in all aspects of roofing, gutter, and siding projects, and our services are customized to each individual project. Call for a free quote today!