Your Attic Needs Protection Against Heat and Moisture
When you look at your roof, what do you see? Depending on the architecture of your home, you may see dormers, a chimney, or even skylights. There may also be dome-like objects powered by wind or electricity that look like turbines. These are called “out-take vents” and are very important features on your roof. They play an important role in keeping your attic dry and cool, increasing the life of your roof.
How Out-Take Vents Protect Your Attic
To be sure your attic is protected year-round, the key is a properly functioning roof ventilation system. Air should move continuously in and out of the attic. When fresh outdoor air enters the attic from intake vents on or near the roof’s lower edge, the air passes throughout the entire attic space and leaves through vents that are located near the peak.
There are two functions an out-take vent provides to protect your attic from heat and moisture:
Prevention of damaging heat buildup.
Did you know that trapped heat can cause early aging of your roofing materials? You may notice cracks in the wood, damaged decking, or warped shingles.
In the heat of summer, the trapped heat can move down into your living space increasing the temperature in your home, thus causing your air conditioner to work overtime to keep up. In the winter, your warm roof can cause another serious problem – an ice dam. An ice dam is built when snow and ice melts on your roof, running down to the edge and refreezing over and over again, eventually creating an ice barrier. This can trap water and cause a variety of problems. By using an exhaust vent to regulate the temperature in your attic, you can avoid these basic problems and help the warm air in your attic flow to the outside.
Prevention of damaging moisture accumulation.
Trapped heat can combine with moisture in your attic at any time of year and form condensation on cooler surfaces. Mold and mildew can form on wood structures like trusses or rafters because the moist air can’t escape. This eventually causes the wood to rot because it never gets the chance to dry out. Your insulation can deteriorate over time. If you notice dampness on decking and insulation, drip marks or water on the attic floor, rust or dark stains on the wood – these are tell-tale signs of trapped heat.
Having exhaust vents to remove that extra moisture and increase air flow is essential. They remove dampness by creating air currents, pulling it out of your attic space naturally. Even in winter your home needs this critical air flow, so it is not recommended to cover or close the vents. This enables your attic to stay moisture-free, year-round.
How Much Ventilation Does Your Attic Need?
Creating a perfect balance of airflow in and out of your attic is the goal. After all, too little or too much ventilation can cause damage to your roof. The size of your attic space will determine the number of vent units you need – since each house has a different design, there’s really no set amount. This is similar to HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, which install units based on variables such as the square footage of your home. No matter the season, your attic needs that perfect balance.
Choose Dallas Area Roofing Replacement and Repair Professionals
Sitting down with qualified DFW roofing specialists to determine what ventilation system is the right one for your house is the best way to ensure peace of mind. RX Roof can give you a complete evaluation to help you decide what ventilation system your attic needs. You can rely on us to:
· Provide information to help you decide how to decrease your energy bill and increase the energy efficiency of your home
· Show you the various types of vents available
· Explain problems that may exist in your attic due to trapped heat and moisture
· Locate the best place for vents to be installed for greatest airflow performance
Our technicians are friendly, highly trained, certified experts. We observe and adhere to strict building code requirements in keeping with construction industry standards on every project. Let RX Roof help you create a ventilation system that will lengthen the life of your home.
Contact us and schedule a free 7-point inspection of your home’s roof today!