The Importance of Attic Ventilation

Posted by ddteam No Comments on The Importance of Attic Ventilation Blog

The Importance of Attic Ventilation

Your roof does much more than just protect your home against the elements. It also helps to regulate the temperature throughout your home and keep your energy usage in check. But, to perform both of these tasks, proper attic ventilation must be included as part of your home’s roofing system. 

Let’s learn about the importance of attic and roof ventilation for your Centennial home. With a well-ventilated roofing system, your home will be set to withstand the seasons in Colorado. 

How Attic Ventilation Works

Attic ventilation works hand-in-hand with roof ventilation to protect your entire home against temperature extremes. Air flow is the critical component of ventilation. There are two main methods for producing air flow throughout an attic: natural and mechanical. 

Natural

With natural ventilation, wind and thermal buoyancy are used to create air flow. Natural air flow doesn’t require mechanical systems. By instead harnessing the power of Mother Nature, natural ventilation is entirely free of charge. So, to ventilate your roof, your Centennial roofing contractors will work to use natural ventilation as much as possible. 

The Stack and Wind Effects

In combination, the wind effect and the stack effect can be utilized to create natural ventilation.  The stack effect refers to hot air rising and producing greater pressure at the highest areas of an attic. To escape and become “exhaust”, hot air needs low-pressure air at a lower temperature – called “intake – to enter the attic. The wind effect occurs when winds hits the exterior of a roof, boosting the amount of air circulation throughout the roof and attic. With the wind effect, the amount of intake and exhaust is increased, thus providing ventilation.

The Risks of Poor Attic Ventilation

If your attic and roofing system aren’t properly ventilated, you may face a number of short and long-term issues. The main issues that arise from a lack of attic ventilation include:

Extreme Heat in the Attic

Without ventilation, your attic won’t be able to release hot, high-pressure air. Hot air rises, so the hot air in your home will inevitably rise to the attic. Additionally, when the sun is shining down on your roof, it will transfer heat into your attic. Unless you have a ventilation system in place, this hot air will get trapped in the attic, leading to extremely high temperatures. 

The heat won’t just sit in your attic, however. Hot air can seep down into the rest of your home and warm your living spaces. This will increase strain on your AC system, leading to higher energy costs in the summer. 

Moisture Accumulation

Ventilation isn’t only critical in the summer. In the winter, ventilation is important to prevent moisture from damaging your home. Steam from inside your home, (namely from the kitchen and bathroom), can get caught in the attic during the winter. The steam will condense and cause multiple issues, including:

• Your insulation becoming ineffective due to condensation
• Mold and mildew growth in your home
• Water damage to your walls, ceilings, and floors
• The formation of ice dams and roof leaks caused by condensation on your soffits and eaves

Without proper ventilation, condensation is bound to form during the chilly winters here in Centennial. But, with a well-ventilated attic and roof, air circulation will prevent condensation from forming, keeping your home safe from water damage. 

Reduced Roof Longevity

Homeowners in Centennial and throughout Colorado aim to make their roofing systems last for as long as possible. By taking good care of your roof, you can avoid the unnecessary expense of an early roof replacement. 

Poor ventilation in your roof and attic can cut down the lifespan of your roofing materials. Excess heat can be transferred to your roof from the attic when air circulation is poor. This excess heat is tough on roof materials and causes deterioration. So, to protect the lifespan of your roofing materials, be sure to invest in proper ventilation. 

Ventilation From Your Roofing Experts

In Centennial and throughout Colorado communities, hot summers and frigid winters make home temperature regulation crucial to your family’s comfort – as well as your utility bill and the lifespan of your roof. To ensure that your attic and roof are properly ventilated, contact Spire Roofing today. Our expert team will bring your roof up to snuff with a ventilation strategy to protect your home and lower your energy costs.