Why Is Attic Ventilation Important?

5/5/2022 (Permalink)

You might be wondering why you would want cool air to come in and heat to escape. After all, attic insulation is designed to keep air out and keep heat in. 

The problems attic ventilation addresses are excess heat and moisture. While attic insulation will do an excellent job of locking in heat, your roof can be negatively affected if that heat starts to become too much or if contractors installed the insulation improperly.

The summer sun can blast your roof with heat throughout the afternoon, transferring that heat into the attic. With large amounts of heat on both sides, your roof sheathing can distort, and your shingles will age prematurely. 

Ice damming becomes an issue during winter, especially in locations where snow is likely to pile up on rooftops. Warm air will rise from inside your home to the attic. That warm air will heat your rooftop just enough to melt snow. 

The melted snow will run toward the eaves, where it’s cooler. The runoff will freeze, creating an ice dam. This damming causes future runoff to pool up and back up under your shingles.

When the air in your attic is cooler, but heat rises from the rest of your home or comes in from the outside, condensation starts to form. That condensation can affect your roof, causing mold and mildew growth, as well as wood rot inside your attic. 

For more info visit atticprojectsseattle.com