Roof Vents
Benefits of Proper Roof Vents - Northern VA
Did you know your stuffy attic might be costing you more money for heating and cooling your home? In the summer an attic with plenty of ventilation gives you the same benefits you would have if your house was surrounded by tall shade trees. In the winter, great air circulation in the attic prevents condensation from collecting and keeps the house warm – remember that wet insulation has a low R-value. The only way the air can stay moving with enough gusto is to have the correct number of roof vents.
We use a formula to determine how much ventilation you need for your home that covers variables such as the ceiling square footage in your house and the number of bug and bird screens in the roof vents. You will know if your attic is not adequately ventilated in the summer by the temperature of your attic. On a hot day it should not feel unbearably hot. If you open up the ceiling hatch you should not experience a quick rush of air moving from the room you are in to the attic.
Air should be able drawn through the soffit vents and exhausted through the gable end vents and roof vents. The higher the ridge vents are set above the gable end vents the better the circulation will be. Most ridge vents run the entire length of the roof on the highest peak. Hot air and humidity escape under the ridge cap. In the summer, a well-ventilated attic is 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than one with poor ventilation.
In the winter, if you see icicles forming on the edge of your roof, there is a problem with the ventilation. The air inside the attic should never warm up the roof deck enough to melt the snow. The melt water freezes along the edge of the roof and creates ice dams, forcing water to back up under the shingles.
Reducing the moisture accumulation in the attic prevents mildew, mold and rot. We would prefer to install additional roof vents in your attic over replacing your roof every few years. Proper ventilation helps to extend the life of your roof and do the job of protecting your home.
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