As a roofing company, we are more often thinking about the outside of your home, rather than the inside. That said, ensuring cohesion between what goes on inside and what goes on outside your house is a priority. Inspecting your attic, where your roof meets the structure of your house, is a critical measure in maintaining the long-term health of your home.
One problem with our houses is how much unnecessary moisture is inside them. When moisture builds up problems such as mold development can be dangerous to your family’s health. A properly ventilated attic is the key to keeping the air in your home as clean as possible.
In this post, we’re dispelling three common attic ventilation myths.
Myth #1: I Only Need a Roof Vent in a Warm Climate
Many people think that the main reason roof vents are important is because they keep your home energy efficient, cooler in warmer weather. Roof vents are actually much more crucial when it comes to removing moisture from your home. They help to reduce the temperature gradient between the inside and outside, reducing the amount of moisture in the long term.
Myth #2: More Attic Ventilation is Always Better
Since the purpose of ventilation is to increase airflow in an area, and reducing the potential for mold, many people think that more ventilation is better. This is not the case. Adding too much ventilation, especially if your attic is fairly small, can actually compromise the role of your roof. Too much ventilation can lead to an increased risk of fire, water, and wind damage.
Myth #3: Attic Ventilation is Only Important in Summer
This myth is similar to the idea that warm climates are the only climates that require robust ventilation. By understanding the relationship between temperature and moisture, we realize that moisture is created not by hot weather, but by the difference in temperature between hot and cold areas. When you warm your house in the winter, the warm moist air rises to your attic. Without proper ventilation, it is met by harsh, cold, attic air, and condenses into moisture. Ventilation allows the warm air to leave your home without condensing, stopping moisture damage in its tracks.
If you’re looking to rethink your roof’s ventilation, ACME can help! We are roofing experts working to help you achieve energy savings and keep your home in its ultimate health. Contact us today!