Attic ventilation is something that is grossly misunderstood today. Ventilation basics dictate that circulation of air is necessary to keep fresh air flowing throughout the house, without letting moisture build up.
This basic fact is misunderstood because most US homes have very high levels of moisture. Therefore it is important for you, as a homeowner, to understand whether and if your house could use some attic ventilation. It might just save your roof, if not your life.
Here are three of the myths that are common about attic ventilation.
1. Attic vents equals attic ventilation
No one has come to terms with what the best roof ventilation systems are, but everybody agrees that some roof attic vents are just as good as not. Experts say that ridge vents are cost-effective and possibly the best you can get. But without the blinders that stop the air from outside from flowing over the vent, there is no ventilation when a household attic uses ridge vents.
Another type is soffit vents which may leave air at the very top of your attic, leaving you to wonder “what’s that horrible smell?” The coverage by the Gable vents is not adequate enough for your whole attic. Static vents that line the roof may often leak and are thus not recommended by experts. You should know which combination of these vents is best suited to your roof.
2. Higher attic Ventilation is good
When you are deciding what AC and furnace you are going to install for your house, do you jump into the decision head first, or do you evaluate it? Too cool an interior atmosphere and it would be a nightmare, too hot and it would be no different.
If you don’t get proper ventilation for your attic, you can have moisture problems in winters. In the summers, your HVAC utility bills will be higher than necessary, indicating a waste of energy. Too much ventilation for your roof is just as bad as too less. Something called extra roof penetration will occur. This provides an avenue for leaks.
Attic roof vents are necessary but you can’t have too much of a good thing. If your house is hit by a natural disaster, your ventilation seems may suffer from blowouts. In the blistering heat from wildfire, sparks may enter through vents and openings in the roof attic and may set the house on fire without you catching so much as a whiff of it.
3. Research (in laboratory settings)
The research carried out on the effectiveness of ventilation of particular vents in laboratory conditions don’t necessary reflect the effectiveness in real life. Wind and weather conditions in real life situations are different from that of the laboratory. This doesn’t mean that there are no advantages to roof ventilation; that fact is undisputed.
Attic fans can also help ventilate the roof in conjunction with the attic vents.
If you feel that an attic fan is a requirement for proper ventilation for your attic, contact Volt Doctors. One of our experienced professionals will install an attic fan for your attic in no time.