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Breathe Easy
Proper attic ventilation is one of the most important considerations of a home. If your attic is adequately ventilated, you'll notice energy savings in the summer (not to mention an increased level of personal comfort). In the winter you'll be less likely to encounter complications such as ice dams. Make no mistake about it: your attic holds a key to your home's health even its structural integrity. Your attic needs to B R E A T H E E A S Y.
January 6, 2000
HousingZone
Whether you're building a new house or considering buying an existing one, you should demand it. A poorly ventilated attic will cause problems all year long, beginning in January.
Those living in the northern two-thirds of the U.S. will probably witness the formation of ice dams on their eaves and gutters. Ice dams form when warm air escapes from the house and melts snow on the roof. Water trickles down the shingles and refreezes at the cold eaves. As layers of ice accumulate, they form a dam that blocks the flow of further snowmelt. That water backs up under the shingles. If it penetrates the roof's tar paper and sheathing, it can flow along rafters and down into wall cavities. With proper insulation and ventilation, you'll maintain a cold roof, which will greatly reduce the chances of ice dams developing.
During the summer months, a ventilated attic will help to keep the living areas beneath the attic cooler and more comfortable. You'll notice a reduction in air conditioner operating time and energy costs. A properly ventilated attic will also remove the heat that distorts and destroys roof shingles.
Crucial as it is, alleviating the heat buildup that can reach 150 degrees on summer days is only one purpose of attic ventilation. You should also keep in mind that good air movement beneath your roof is a major factor in preventing weather-induced home deterioration.
Ventilation is a simple concept. Air vents are placed as near the roof peak as possible to allow warm air to escape; intake vents are installed in the soffit portion or undereaves to allow air to enter the attic area. Simple, yes, but with the stakes this high, it's important to know some of the ventilation options on the market today.
Attic ventilators fall into two main categories: powered and static. Powered vents force air out of the attic and are usually equipped with automatic thermostats that activate the unit at a preselected temperature. Static vents depend on natural air flow to do the job. Companies like NuTone and Mid America Building Products Corp., among others, offer attic cooling fans, and vents that are designed to line the ridge and hip sections of the roof.
That decision may be more difficult to make if you have an unusual roof. For instance, it's a little trickier to find ventilation products for a tile roof, and once youÕve found them, they may look unsightly. Try contacting a company like O'Hagin's, Inc., which manufactures a cloaked vent tile in addition to standard tile-roof vents. This vent tile fits and blends with all major concrete and clay tiles.
A note to those home owners with tile roofs, who live in the hot, humid regions of the United States: According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, soffit and ridge vents in warm, moist locales may actually suck moisture into the attic rather than remove it.
Once you've done your homework and sought the advice of professionals, you'll be ready to choose. Try not to base your decision on up-front price; think instead of long-term cost. What will it take to effectively equalize the temperature inside and outside the attic, and what are you willing to pay to achieve this end?
Choose carefully and wisely. If you opt for skimping on proper ventilation now, you may end up paying thousands of dollars for maintenance and upkeep. If you match your choice to your budget, you'll be breathing easy for years to come.
Who to Contact for advice, publications and products:
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Sources: Principles of Attic Ventilation, Fifth Edition, Air Vent Inc.; Home Ventilating Guide, Home Ventilating Institute Division of the Air Movement and Control Association; This Old House,November/December 1996; Mid America Building Products Corporation; O'Hagin's, Inc.; NuTone.
© 2009, Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Photos courtesy of NuTone.
