Why Homes Need Attic Ventilation
If your home has an attic, it is probably used as a glorified storage space, holding your precious childhood toys, holiday decorations, suitcases, and boxes filled with old photo albums. What you may not realize is that by not having proper ventilation, you are reducing how comfortable your home is when the seasons change. Here is what you should know about proper attic ventilation and how to achieve it.
The Importance of Attic Ventilation
If you find that when the seasons change that you are running your air conditioner or heater more often (and seeing your energy bills skyrocket), it might be due to inadequate attic ventilation. In the summer, having poor ventilation can prevent the cooler night air from coming into your home, and in the winter it causes you to retain all that moist air.
Not only does this make your house uncomfortable overall, but your heater and air conditioner have to work that much harder to achieve the temperature you want inside. Ventilation is a very important part of keeping your home comfortable, and it starts in your attic. It is even more essential if you have certain roofing materials that require ventilation, such as asphalt shingles.
Types of Attic Ventilation
In order to achieve proper ventilation, you need a way to get the old air out, and the fresh air in. This is the goal whether it is the winter or summer. Natural ventilation is possible by installing attic vents on your roof to get some fresh air in your home and rid your home of moist, hot air that makes it uncomfortable year-round.
Another great option you have is getting an attic fan. You also need the vents, but with an attic fan, you speed up and improve your attic’s ventilation potential. Attic fans are highly beneficial in the summer when you want to get rid of the hot air inside and let fresh air in that is typically cooler than what is in your attic. However, attic fans can be used year-round for ventilation purposes.
Attic Insulation
In addition to the ventilation, you also need good insulation in your attic. In the winter, the attic fan will help to circulate air, but you still need good insulation to allow your attic and the rest of your home to cool properly. Make sure the floor of your attic has good insulation, and that you have rafter vents installed. This lets you prevent the heat from escaping prematurely, while you still have proper ventilated air throughout your home.
A good way to tell you need better ventilation in your attic is if your energy bill continues to spike and you find that you need to keep your heater or air conditioner on for longer periods of time. If there is no issue with your heating or air conditioning units themselves, the culprit is probably a combination of your ventilation and insulation in your attic. Attic fans are easy to have installed and can be kept on all year long.