When you notice icicles or ice dams on your roof, this can be taken as an indicator that there is not sufficient ventilation in your attic space. Ventilation removes excess moisture that could contribute to mold growth and wood rot.
There are various types of roof vents designed to promote attic airflow. Soffit vents work in tandem with exhaust ridge vents (intake style vents) for optimal results.
Extends the Life of Your Roof
Hot air that remains trapped in an attic can damage its roof shingles and insulation, rendering them less effective. Plus, excess moisture brings in mold and mildew causing expensive repairs.
Proper roof ventilation can help address this problem by installing intake and exhaust vents to act as your roof’s lungs, drawing in fresh air while expelling warm, stale air from inside your attic space. A properly ventilated attic also protects you against costly problems caused by ice damming in winter and wood rot, thus safeguarding both home and wallet against unnecessary expenses. It is the smart, responsible way to take care of your home!
Prevents Ice Dams
Ice dams that form on roofs in winter can often be traced back to poor ventilation and insulation, which results in unsightly dams forming due to inadequate airflow or inadequate insulation. Not only are ice dams unsightly, they can cause water penetration that leads to rotted siding or mold growth inside homes that eventually leads to mold or mildew growth inside wall cavities resulting in home repair costs as well as health hazards like mildew growth in interior wall cavities.
Heat escaping through attic vents heats the underside of roof, causing snow to melt, which then runs off onto colder eaves where it refreezes to form ice dams that block gutters and soffits.
Steeply pitched metal roofs may seem like an effective solution for ice dams, but they don’t actually prevent them. A better strategy would be proper attic ventilation with ridge vents and continuous cold air from soffit vents.
Keeps Your Attic Cool
Heat trapped in an attic can seep into living space and force your cooling system to work overtime, leading to higher energy costs and increasing heating bills. A well-ventilated attic keeps temperatures even throughout your home and reduces energy expenses as a result.
Air intake ventilation brings in cool and fresh air from vents located along the eaves, acting as a buffer against stubborn hot air that refuses to leave through exhaust vents and the roof. For optimal performance, vents should be evenly spaced throughout your lower attic section to provide even air distribution and ensure balanced airflow throughout.
Winter airflow balance helps prevent ice dams from forming when snowmelt melts during the day and refreezes at night, creating costly water damage, mold growth and structural damages without proper attic ventilation. Ice dams can lead to extensive structural damages as well.
Increases Energy Efficiency
Warm air can quickly accumulate in an attic space without proper ventilation, leading to high energy bills and premature wear and tear on roofing shingles, insulation, wood framing and A/C units. This could result in expensive energy costs as well as premature wear on your A/C unit and premature roof wear and tear.
Proper roof ventilation can solve this issue by creating balanced airflow throughout your attic. Intake vents like soffit vents, eave vents or fascia vents allow cool air into the attic while hot, moist air is channeled toward exhaust vents like ridge vents, gable vents or mechanical exhaust fans for exhaust. This enables comfortable home temperatures all year round while simultaneously cutting energy consumption and saving money; plus it extends the lifespan of roofing materials and improves indoor air quality!
Reduces Indoor Temperature Extremes
Your home generates an immense amount of moisture during hotter seasons, especially from activities like laundry, showering and bathing, cooking and more that create moist air that tends to congregate near your ceiling or attic space. Without adequate ventilation this moisture-laden air may become trapped against insulation leading to condensation resulting in mold or mildew growth and condensation which in turn causes mold and mildew growth.
Proper roof ventilation allows warm air to leave your attic and cooler air to enter your home, helping prevent condensation-caused damages and energy costs by decreasing demand on your cooling system. Furthermore, proper ventilation keeps your house well insulated year-round by decreasing artificial heating/cooling needs, making your home more comfortable all year long while prolonging shingle lifespan and overall roof health.
