Attic Ventilation Problems

Attic ventilation problems can be caused by a number of things.

Attic ventilation problems.

If the vents are at floor level within the attic rather than higher up the wall make sure they are not covered by any insulation. A hot ceiling tells you that the attic is acting like a solar oven raising your cooling bills and cooking the shingles. An unexplained uptick in your household heating and cooling bills which can happen if your attic insulation gets wet and loses its effectiveness. An inadequate attic ventilation system can cause a variety of problems that manifest themselves in different ways.

Here are some subtle and some not so subtle things to watch out for. The attic ventilation can ultimately reduce condensation that may build up in the attic during winter and summer months. In the winter we get calls about wet attics. Both of these problems are either caused or made worse by inadequate attic ventilation.

Insufficient ventilation can lead to moisture problems during the winter and decreased energy efficiency during the summer but too much ventilation can be just as bad if not worse. The whole house fans takes hot air from the house and moves it up into the attic and out through the attic vents. Warm air that escapes rooms below gets trapped in the attic. Here are some of the myths and the facts you need to know about attic ventilation.

Attic fans do cool down a house in less than an hour. Snow melts and the water refreezes on the cold eaves creating ice dams. Common attic problems include pest infestation mold growth and the problem of excessive moisture which spoils items appliances and systems in attics. Primarily because winter can cause moisture that stems from warm moist air infiltrating into the attic space from the occupied areas in the home and summer can bring in warm moist hair that can cause condensation.

Excessive moisture not only causes the decking to sag but it also causes rust to appear in the attic. Thick ridges of ice on your eaves in winter are a sign of poor attic ventilation. Just like properly sizing your furnace and air conditioning unit you want precisely the right amount of attic ventilation for your home. This can lead to a number of serious and expensive problems.

Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves allow cool. Without proper ventilation moisture from everyday activities such as showering washing laundry and washing dishes rises to the attic and slowly collects there. In the summer we get calls about hot attics. A lack of intake ventilation is one of the biggest items.

More attic ventilation is good. Touch your ceiling on a warm sunny day. Poor roof ventilation tends to trap moisture and hot air inside the attic resulting in the deterioration of the roof decking as well as the shingles and the underlayment. Check your attic vents.

Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents. If they are damaged insects birds and other small animals can set up home and cause a blockage. Improperly installed attic ventilation cannot address two important aspects of indoor comfort.