How well does your home breathe? You might be tempted to leave your home’s attic out of sight and out of mind—but if it’s time for a new roof for your home, or even if you’re noticing issues with controlling temperature and cooling costs in your home over a hot summer season, it might be time to revisit your attic.
Why Does your Attic Matter?
A balanced attic ventilation system, consisting of an intake at the eaves, soffits, or fascias of the roof and an exhaust around your roof ridge, helps to control the temperature of your home, allowing cool, fresh air to enter into the attic and hot, moist air to escape—particularly when it comes to hot, muggy summer days. Similarly, during wintertime, a well-ventilated attic will expel water vapor, preventing it from condensing in the insulation, and will maintain a cold roof to prevent the formation of ice dams.
What Does a Bad Attic Do to your Home?
Poor ventilation can lead to a buildup of moist air in the summertime, which can eventually lead to mold, mildew, and warping—as well as major structural issues down the road. Hot air can also rise to the attic during the winter, causing ice dams as snow on the roof melts and refreezes.
A poorly-ventilated roof also makes your home’s HVAC system work overtime, reducing the life of the system and costing you more in heating and cooling costs. And, worst of all, a damp, dark, and humid space can be a haven for pests like insects and rodents, causing them to make nests and damage the structure of your home over time.
It’s also important to note that an improperly ventilated attic can be a dangerous place, particularly during a hot summer day. Work on or in an attic, such as repairs, insulation, or pest control, can’t be performed too late in the morning or during the day, because the heat can become deadly for anyone who spends enough time in it. Schedule attic work only for the early morning, and respect when workers may need to take frequent breaks to lower the risk of heat illness.
What Can you Do?
The U.S. Federal Housing Administration recommends having at least one square foot of attic ventilation for every 300 square feet of attic floor space. If you are unsure if your attic is properly vented, or if your heating and cooling bills have been suspiciously high, consider calling Goff Heating/Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We can check your attic and roof to determine whether your home has the right amount of attic ventilation, and we can recommend and perform repairs! To find out more and learn more about your roof, contact Goff today by visiting us online or calling 903-838-6923 today!