In the winter warm moist air seeps into the attic from the living space below.
Attic ventilation summer.
The insulation will resist heat transfer into the house.
Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves allow cool.
Just like properly sizing your furnace and air conditioning unit you want precisely the right amount of attic ventilation for your home.
Frost on the underside of the roof or rafters.
More attic ventilation is good.
If you ve got an older home and it needs more insulation you ve got the perfect opportunity.
Attics can reach temperatures of 150 to 160 degrees f during a summer day although outside air temperatures are only 95 to 97 degrees f.
Here are some of the myths and the facts you need to know about attic ventilation.
In the summer good attic ventilation reduces heat buildup.
Attic ventilation in the summer one of the very first things they teach you in science class is that heat rises.
The maximum ventilation rate is required to remove heat during the summer cooling months.
Good ventilation allows the heat and moisture to escape.
You can also spot this in the summer.
The most common mistake homeowners make when installing insulation is to block the flow of air at the eaves.
Warm moist air trapped in the attic condenses and freezes on the wood.
Water stained or blackened wood.
A sign of mildew or rot.
A sign that condensation is.
For example in the summer or in places where it s summer all the time like las vegas the sun beats down on the roof heating up the attic.
But in homes without appropriate insulation and ventilation in the attic heat migrates.
By removing the old insulation you ll expose the ceiling.
In the summer natural air flow in a well vented attic moves super heated air out of the attic protecting roof shingles and removing moisture.
Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents.
That cuts cooling costs and prolongs shingle life.
This heat can lead to uncomfortable living spaces high cooling costs damage to your roof and premature aging of your air conditioning system.
If you ve got a vented attic that gets hot in the summer your first option is leave the attic vented and make sure the ceiling is air sealed and insulated as well as possible.
Insufficient ventilation can lead to moisture problems during the winter and decreased energy efficiency during the summer but too much ventilation can be just as bad if not worse.