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Your attic is not just any old room in your house. It’s the secret, magically spacious space where you hide all of life’s little treasures when they can’t fit anywhere else- like furniture or boxes of holiday decorations that are too big to tuck away elsewhere. It may also be one of the busiest rooms in your home with air circulating throughout and insulation trapping heat from escaping easily. All these features make for an uncomfortable environment if not properly ventilated, which is why proper attic ventilation is a top priority for roofers in Loveland, CO and homeowners alike!
Proper ventilation is important for two reasons. First, it helps keep the roof cool and dry by allowing hot air to escape from the attic. Second, ventilation prevents moisture buildup in the roof sheathing that can lead to mold growth or rot. It also keeps insulation dry and effective, so you don’t have to worry about ice dams forming on your roof during winter months. As aforementioned, the attic also has a whole bunch of other functions and is one tremendously busy spot with air circulating throughout and insulation trapping heat from elsewhere. Without it, your attic will become a toasty oven and you run the risk of moisture buildup in roofs which can lead to all sorts of other issues like mold growth or rot!
So, you may be wondering, what does this have to do with me? Is it really that important to have a properly ventilated attic? Won’t my roof be fine, regardless of what is going on above? The truth is that a properly ventilated attic has health benefits for us. Properly ventilated attics are healthier for homeowners because they prevent mold growth and rotting of wood framing members as well as condensation problems with insulation materials such as fiberglass batts or cellulose insulation boards. If you want your home to be a healthier place, do not forget about the attic. Your body will thank you.
Attics have a lot of responsibility when it comes to functionality. They regulate the temperature in your house, decrease humidity levels and as mentioned, prevent mold growth as well as rotting wood. Not to mention insulation materials like fiberglass batts or cellulose boards can be preserved with proper ventilation! The benefits of proper ventilation extend beyond just keeping things dry though. It also reduces energy costs by preventing heat loss through an unvented attic space. In cold climates this occurs where heat rises into the attic space from below (eave vents) and when warm air enters an unvented attic space from above (roof vents). Additionally, proper ventilation improves indoor air quality by reducing dust accumulation which can be harmful to people with allergies or asthma — especially children who spend more time indoors than adults do! By improving indoor humidity levels, you can help reduce respiratory symptoms like coughing and wheezing caused by airborne particles such as pollen grains, pet dander, dust mites etc. You’ll also see an improvement in the health or your friendly house plants.
As noted, the basic benefits that a properly ventilated attic provides are numerous and go well beyond simply helping to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
What Type of Ventilation Should I Have?
There are two main types of ventilation systems: natural and wind-driven. The natural or traditional ventilation systems depend on the forces of nature to help move outside air throughout a building. Three factors play roles for this system work: climate, human behavior, and certain architectural designs that open more windows in warmer climates.
The idea of natural ventilation may seem like a simple task. Opening windows and letting fresh air in, right? Well, it is not quite that easy. In some places with more outside contamination than inside, opening the window will just let pollution inside too! And if you are indoors and open your window to get relief from heat or fumes–do not count on getting clean air coming back into your apartment either because smoke is likely being drawn out by those same breezes going around buildings all day long! It can be tough sometimes, but we must take care of ourselves no matter what.
Wind-driven ventilation is so much more straightforward. It also goes by the name of unilateral ventilation and cross ventilation. This type of venting considers how wind interacts with chimneys, windows or other openings in a building to keep it fresh all year long!
Different types of ventilation are used in different situations, depending on your home, climate and some other factors. Again, an experienced roofing contractor will know what is best for your home.
What Should You do if You Have a Problem?
If you think there’s not enough ventilation in your attic, there are a few tricks for checking things out. For example, look at the walls near vents to see if they are wet from condensation and listen up through open windows or doors to hear any sounds of air coming in. Here are some more things you can do as a homeowner, to check if you may have a ventilation problem.
– Look for wet insulation around vents
– Listen for air movement coming from vents (should sound like wind)
– Feel with your hand at the vents; you should feel cool air coming out when the outside temperature is below freezing point (32 degrees Fahrenheit)
– Check for spikes in your air conditioning bills
If any of these things happen, then chances are good that there is not enough ventilation going into the attic space! The best thing to do is to call a reputable contractor in your area and have them perform a free inspection. An experienced roofing contractor should be able to quickly tell you if you have sufficient ventilation, and if not, how to easily rectify the situation.
As the attic is often a forgotten space in the home, it’s important to write down a note to call a roofing contractor if you aren’t able to call during normal business hours. A common mistake homeowner make is not installing vents for ventilation, which can lead to mold or water damage. It’s also often overlooked when expansion is on the horizon. If you are considering adding an addition onto your house, consider putting vents in the roof of the new section to ensure that moisture does not get trapped and build up over time.
At Aspen Leaf Roofing we understand how important it is to keep things cool during those warm summer months. That is why our team of experts offers expert services when it comes time to repair or replace damaged roofs in order to prevent heat from escaping through them and causing higher energy costs throughout the year. We also offer free inspections if there are no visible signs of damage on your roof so contact us today!