Does My Attic Need Ventilation

In cold climates the primary purpose of attic or roof ventilation is to maintain a cold roof temperature to control ice dams created by melting snow and to vent moisture that moves from the conditioned space to the attic ventilation acts to bypass the vapour barrier created by most roof membranes.

Does my attic need ventilation.

Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves allow cool. Roofing experts say the majority of u s. That is openings doors windows and louvers to the outside should create a. What does attic ventilation do for my home.

Homes do not have proper roof ventilation which can lead to severe roof damage. Attic ventilation fans help cool air your attic by pushing out the stifling hot air from inside the attic and bringing in cool air from outside. Rafter vents should be placed in your attic ceiling in between the rafters at the point where your attic ceiling meets your attic floor. Attic ventilation should equal approximately 1 square foot of vent area for every 300 square feet of.

Ventilation of attic spaces is required by most building codes as well as by roofing material manufacturers and the national roofing contractors association nrca. You can also contact your local municipality to check on building code in your area. In other words the entire vent opening doesn t count as vented space. Attic ventilation is an intake and exhaust system that creates airflow designed to decrease the difference in temperature between the outdoor air and the air inside the attic.

That said air resistance and interference such as vent grates reduces the area of true ventilation. Effective ventilation provides year round benefits creating a cooler attic in the summer and a drier attic in the winter. This prevents hot air from seeping into your home and driving up the temperature in the living space which reduces the load on your air conditioner. Once they are in place you can then place the batts or blankets or blow insulation right out to the very edge of the attic floor.

Determining what you need is simple all you need is the size of your house and a calculator. Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents. The federal housing administration recommends at least 1 square foot of ventilation for every 300 square feet of attic space.