Is Venting An Attic Important To Do
It is important that air movement occurs and is not impeded by any framing members of the.
Is venting an attic important to do. It keeps the attic cooler and reduces the amount of energy you need to devote to air conditioning. As a certified licensed home inspector it is not correct to say too much ventilation is bad for an attic unless rain moisture is getting in. Areas with hot summers and cold winters can suffer the effects of both. Attic fans do require electricity to operate which makes this attic ventilation solution more costly to operate than relying on natural attic ventilation through vents.
Attic ventilation to do list in addition to the attic ventilation solutions above there are more steps you can take to prevent moisture issues in your attic and help maintain proper attic ventilation throughout the winter. You re probably aware that most attics and roofs are vented. Prior to installing the ridge vent a 1 inch wide strip of roof decking is cut out along both sides of the ridgeline to allow for air movement through the vent. Why proper roof ventilation is important.
To choose the proper ventilation system for your attic you ll first need to know the total area of your attic. A balanced attic ventilation system that consists of intake at the eaves soffits or fascias of the roof and exhaust at or near your roof ridge serves two important functions. Attic ventilation in the winter. In summer attic ventilation does just the opposite.
Maybe you ve seen a fan in the side of your attic under the eaves or maybe you re aware of the ridge cap at the peak of your roof. There s one more benefit that is probably more important than either of these. Proper ventilation in your attic helps address excess heat and moisture that can otherwise wreak havoc on your home. First it allows cool fresh air to enter into the attic.
Heat and moisture buildup in an attic cause predictable but different problems in hot and cold climates. The vents keep the attic dry. Do not use mechanical means electric attic fans. So if your attic is 25 by 15 you ll need 2 5 feet of vent space.
While heat migrates in the summer because your attic is acting as a giant pressure cooker in the winter the attic space is colder allowing more room for the heat to rise and bring all that warm cozy. To determine the area multiply the length times the width in feet. You would think that venting an attic would be counterintuitive in the winter or cold months. Venting a homes attic is a very important best building practices will say 50 at the ridge and 50 at the soffits unobstructed.
Then divide the total area by 150 to find the total amount of vent space needed for your attic.