There are a lot of misconceptions about attic ventilation that make it hard for people to decide whether to install one or not. These misconceptions have also led people to make mistakes and spend money on unnecessary installations.
When choosing the right vents for your home, you should consider affordability, effectiveness, durability, and ease of installation. You should also note that every type of ventilation has its pros and cons.
Picking and installing ventilation does not mean that you’ll immediately have good air circulation in your home. Read on to know the common misconceptions about attic ventilation that make people commit mistakes when installing air vents.
If You Want More Ventilation, Install Roof Vents
In the current market, ridge vents are considered the most cost-effective type of air vent; however, if installed without baffles that keep air out, they’ll provide little to no ventilation. On the other hand, Gable vents circulate air effectively, but only in the area around them.
There’s also the static roof-line vent which provides adequate ventilation but may be prone to leaks. Lastly, soffit vents are the right choice for most homes, but for the others, it leaves air trapped at the top of your attic.
At present, one of the most effective ventilation systems employs a “ride-and-soffit” continuous system. Choosing this type of system does not guarantee that you’ll have an effective one since this design varies from roof to roof. To get the best ventilation system for your home, turn to our professional team. We can inspect your current system and any inherent weaknesses that may be present.
Aside from the type of vent, the vent’s installation also affects the amount of air circulation it provides. A wrongly installed vent will not provide proper ventilation, and it may cause leaks to your home.
The bottom line is, various kinds of vents work differently from one another. That is why merely installing air vents may do more harm than good. What matters is that you should inspect and determine your home’s needs, and you should know the elements of a premium roof so that you’d pick the perfect air vent that suits your home.
Only Homes in Hot Climates Need Vents
Contrary to the belief that vents are only needed in warm or hot climates, vents are actually required in all weathers. This is because vents provide proper attic ventilation, energy efficiency, and prevent moisture build-up and condensation in the attic.
Even though homes in hot climates like Florida and Hawaii benefit most from properly ventilated attics, homes in all climates can also take advantage of those benefits.
For places that experience colder seasons, preparing the roof for winter is essential. One step to be prepared is to install proper ventilation since the combination of too much heat in the attic, and cold snow on the roof may cause significant damages to your home. Through these vents, you can prevent ice dams on your roof and moisture-related damages.
Your House Needs More Ventilation
Ideally, your attic ventilation balance would equal the size of your home. This means that the attic insulation has the perfect amount of exhaust space to match the air intake. Roofing experts use a roof inspection checklist that includes your attic’s size and slope to determine the ideal amount of ventilation that your home system demands.
Not having sufficient attic ventilation can lead to moisture problems and decreased energy efficiency; however, too much ventilation can be just as bad. Installing more than the required vents may lead to more roof penetrations (places where leaks can occur).
Aside from increasing your risk of leaks, needlessly increasing the number of vents may cause blowouts during intense hurricanes. So, consulting a team that specializes in air ventilation would be a good idea.
Ready to address attic ventilation and other roofing concerns? Reach out to Dominion Roofing, and let’s talk more about how we can help you.
Attic Vents Remove Warm Air During the Winter
Usually, heat will rise into your attic then escape through the vents if a roofing system has insufficient, damaged, or old insulation that allows warm, moist air coming from your home to enter your attic.
When warm air is removed from the attic, it isn’t because of the vents. Instead, it is caused by the inability of the insulation to perform its functions. Attic vents won’t create a drag on your heating system. That is why, if you notice that warm air creeps into the attic, make sure that your attic insulation is well maintained and functioning correctly.
When checking for roofing-related problems (damaged air vents, insufficient insulation, broken roofs, etc.), you should also check chimneys as they may contribute to the leaks in your home. Contact Dominion Roofing if you need help with roofing-related issues or installations.
PRO TIP:
“Regular roof inspection should not be considered as an additional expense, but rather as an
investment to keep your building sturdy and properly maintained.”
Common Misconceptions About Attic Ventilation FAQs
How important is attic ventilation?
Attic ventilation systems are critical since it allows cool, fresh air to enter into the attic and hot, moist air to escape. A good system will help you prevent future problems caused by too much heat in the attic or no heat at all. A balanced ventilation system includes eaves, soffits, and exhaust at or near your roof ridge.
Can you have too much attic ventilation?
Yes. It is okay to have too much attic ventilation as long as the intake vent area is equal to or more than the exhaust vent area. However, if you can prevent too much ventilation, you should do so since a lot of exhaust ventilation will disrupt the natural airflow of the system.
What happens if your attic is not vented?
If you don’t put vents in your attic, you may experience a lot of problems which includes moisture build-up that leads to condensation, damages to the roofing materials, the formation of mildew and, ice dams forming on the roof, molds, and higher bills due to the AC being turned on for longer periods.
