Does Your Home Have Enough Roof Ventilation?

Proper ventilation in your roof is important for the overall health and energy efficiency of your home. Poor roof ventilation can harm your home in several ways that can end up costing you money.

It is important to have about one square foot of ventilation per three-hundred square feet of attic space. Your ventilation should also be split equally between intake and exhaust vents.

If your roof does not have adequate ventilation, or you want to learn about ways to test your ventilation, we recommend contacting an expert roof repair and replacement company for an assessment.

What Does Roof Ventilation Do

Roof ventilation is important for protecting your home and attic against excessive moisture and humidity while enhancing the temperature control in your living spaces. Ventilation accomplishes this by circulating the air in your attic and preventing a buildup of heat or moisture.

Your roof should have both intake and exhaust vents. There’s a difference between heat and hot air. Heat doesn’t move on its own, it’s transported via mediums like air. Exhaust vents allow hot air to escape your attic and the comparably cooler air to come in via intake vents. Exhaust vents should be closer to the top of your roof line. Ridge vents are some of the most popular types of roof exhaust vents because they are installed high on your roof.

What Can Roof Ventilation Prevent

• Moisture Damage: Poor roof ventilation can lead to moisture damage in your attic space, including expensive issues like wood rot, mildew or mold growth. When your home doesn’t have enough roof ventilation, hot, humid air can become trapped in your attic. The longer the humid air is allowed to sit in your attic the more moisture will be absorbed by building materials, insulation and any personal items you have stored up there.

• Insulation Damage: Humid air that gathers in your attic can reduce the effectiveness of your home’s insulation. Wet insulation also becomes a breeding ground for mold and bacteria that can pose a health risk to the inhabitants of your home.

• High Energy Bills: When your home does not have enough roof ventilation, heat builds up in your attic. This heat may force your AC or heat pump to work harder to maintain a stable temperature throughout your home, creating higher energy bills for you.

• Ice Dams: Although it’s rare in the Atlanta area, there is a slight possibility of snow in January. The development of ice dams generally isn’t a problem we have to deal with, but it can be a serious issue in many parts of the country. Snow can gather along the edge of a roof. Poor roof ventilation leads to the development if ice dams when that snow melts then refreezes on a home’s gables.

How to Test Your Roof Ventilation

• Feel your ceiling for warmth: If your ceiling is warm, it could indicate that heat is being trapped in your attic.

• Check for vents: If you have few roof vents or they are clogged, contact a roofing company to have your roof ventilation assessed.

• Conduct a smoke test: Carefully burn incense or light a match in your attic. Track the smoke with a flashlight to see how it travels.

• Check for dampness in your attic space: A damp attic is a poorly ventilated attic.

• Check your electric bill: If your AC must work extra hard to maintain temperatures in your home, it could indicate that your attic is not ventilated properly.

• Conduct a temperature check in your home: If the temperature in your home fluctuates from room to room it may be due in part to poor roof ventilation.

Total Roof Solutions Can Solve Your Roof Ventilation Problems

Your roof is important for maintaining the health of yourself, your family and your home. A properly ventilated roof can increase your roofs longevity, reduce the risk of moisture damage and mold, keep your electric bills lower and enhance your indoor comfort.

Total Roof Solutions is committed to providing reliable roofing services throughout the Atlanta metro area. We can assess your roof’s ventilation and recommend solutions that will work for you. Call us at 678-752-8668 to schedule an assessment or a roof replacement consultation.