Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents.
Does my attic need to be vented.
Your attic may presently have a fixed ladder a pull down ladder or no ladder at all.
Yes using spray foam we have added your attic to the conditioned space.
Here s the answer to the question posed in my article title.
To convert your attic to living space you cannot provide access via a ladder.
When done correctly attic venting can reduce the potential for condensation in winter and summer.
The model building codes allow both vented and unvented roof assemblies.
Attics or roofs can be designed and constructed to be either vented or unvented in any hygro thermal zone map 1.
What your attic probably does not have is a set of code compliant stairs.
My question is this.
Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves allow cool.
The ventilation that controls moisture from condensation and regulates the temperature in your attic relies on air circulation.
The choice of venting or not venting is a design and construction choice not a requirement determined by the physics or by the building code.
In other words the entire vent opening doesn t count as vented space.
In a properly designed passive system air enters through the soffit.
Calculate or enter the square footage of the attic or area to be vented.
When we seal the attic with spray foam it s as tight as a butter tub.
That said air resistance and interference such as vent grates reduces the area of true ventilation.
Our thermostat is nearby this half closet.
During winter the primary cause of attic moisture issues stem from warm moist air infiltrating into the attic space from the inhabited areas and condensing on cold surfaces.
To get down to brass tacks the question becomes less about should you and more about how much you need.
The easy answer is yes your attic should absolutely be vented.
Let owens corning roofing help you calculate exactly how much ventilation you will need for a healthy and balanced attic with our 4 step ventilation calculator.
Does the furnace and evaporator coils need to be vented like this or can i close up this hole and help reduce air loss into the attic.
However in a traditionally insulated attic insulation on the ceiling the attic is vented.