Let’s talk about attic ventilation…
Many people don’t think of attic ventilation as a huge cause for concern as most attics hold storage or are simply empty spaces that hold insulation.
The truth is: having a balanced ventilation system plays a significant role in protecting the inside of your home by allowing it to breathe. Air flows from the intake soffit vent through the attic and is released through exhaust vents.
If properly installed, ventilation can protect the interior of your home from a multitude of factors, including:
1. Moisture and Mold
Moisture from outside seeping into the home is not the only factor that can lead to mold — there is also moisture indoors that must be dealt with. Moisture created indoors from showering, exercising, cook, or even just breathing flows upwards and needs a system to be vented out of the home.
With a balanced ventilation system, homeowners can rest easy knowing that the natural moisture accumulated from the indoor and outdoor environment will be under control.
2. Ice Dams
Having a properly functioning ventilation system also works to prevent ice dams from forming on a roof.
Ice dams occur during the winter in colder climates when warm air melts snow on the roof. When this snow melts, it refreezes, and water backs up behind the dam in the gutter. Backed up, still water can cause degradation to interior walls, ceilings, and insulation.
3. Hot Attic
Without ventilation, attic temperatures can reach over 150 degrees in the summer. Even if nothing is being stored there, an extremely hot attic can ultimately damage the roof.
Additionally, the summer heat not being properly vented out raises air conditioner use, making it more costly to stay cool.
So, how does attic ventilation protect the inside of your home?
That’s an easy answer: it protects the home from moisture and mold, ice dams, and a hot attic leading to higher energy costs in the warmer months.