subject: Properly Ventilated Attics [print this page] Properly ventilated attics are very important for energy savings and to keep your home a healthy one. Poor ventilation can lead to moisture problems which are expensive to repair or it could be costing you in utility bills if you are cooling your home during the summer with central air or air conditioning units.
The most common method of ventilating an attic is with simple ridge vents and vents in the soffit under the eaves troughs. This creates airflow in the attic that continually keeps fresh air coming in through the bottom and out at the top where the ridge vents are.
Sometimes a fan can be added to increase the efficiency of this process. These fans are often placed on the ridge of your home and they can be wired to turn on when a temperature point inside has been reached.
With so many home remodel ideas to consider, homeowners sometimes neglect the spaces that are not usually a part of our daily lives, however, taking care of your entire home is essential because it functions as one unit and the health of your home depends on each space being properly maintained.
The reasons you want to have a properly ventilated attic are tied in with your savings and the health of your home. If air is not properly ventilated, moisture can build up and cause extensive damage to other parts of your home. Consider moist air that condenses and freezes on the ceiling of your attic during the winter months. When the ice thaws out, the water can travel to a number of places, causing hard to find sources of water damage and structural failure of important areas of your home. Moisture in the attic is also a source for mildew and mold that can lead to even costlier cleanups in the future.
During the summer months, an attic that is not ventilated can reach extremely high temperatures. This is why ridge fans that are wired to turn themselves on when a temperature point has been reached exist. If this air is not removed from the home it will eventually move down into your living space and radiate heat to the areas of your home you are trying to keep cool. This is especially important if you are using air conditioning to cool your home as you will be paying higher costs to offset this heat gain coming from your attic.
Properly ventilating your attic is not a very expensive procedure, but it is one that can save you a lot in utility bills and costly structural repairs if left undone. A roofing contractor is your best source for dealing with the ventilation of your attic.
