If you want to avoid roof repairs and keep your roof in great shape, your attic must be properly ventilated.
In a previous blog, we talked about ice dams and the damage they can cause to your roof. Ice dams are formed when an attic isn’t properly ventilated and the heat from inside the attic seeps through the roof and melts the snow. Once the snow reaches the edge of the roof, it refreezes, forming a dam. Ice dams can lead to roof leaks and a whole host of other unpleasant issues, and the only way to prevent ice dams for good is to ensure that your attic is ventilated as it should be. Proper ventilation also helps to improve your home’s efficiency and control the moisture in your attic, but how do you know if your attic is properly ventilated or not?
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Signs of an attic that isn’t ventilated properly:
Clogged soffit vents – The vents that allow warm air and condensation to escape from your attic can be found in the soffits of your home. Over time, these vents can become clogged or blocked by debris, such as twigs and leaves. Some animals, typically birds, also tend to make their homes in these vents, making it impossible for air to leave as it should. Simply having attic ventilation isn’t enough if you don’t stay on top of it to ensure that the vents are clear.- Heat radiating from your attic – Can you feel the heat coming from your attic even before you open the door? If the air has nowhere to go, it will stay trapped in the attic. As we mentioned above, in the winter, this can lead to ice dams, and in the summer, this can greatly hinder your HVAC system’s energy efficiency because all of that extra heat will force your air conditioner to work harder than it normally would have to.
- Mold – Not only does ventilation help the warm air escape safely into the outside world, it also reduces the condensation that can build up in your attic. Without the proper insulation, that moisture can’t go anywhere, and it can seep into the insulation in your attic, as well as the roof sheathing and decking. If these areas remain moist for long enough, mold can start to develop.
- Visible rot – An attic that isn’t properly ventilated is prone to large shifts in temperature. These shifts can wreak havoc on the wood inside the attic, causing it to shrink and expand, which causes cracking. This kind of damage can also be found on your roof.
Infographic: How to Locate a Roof Leak
Attic ventilation is essential for so many reasons.
Whether you want to avoid costly roof repairs in Edmonton or you simply want your home to be as efficient as possible, proper attic ventilation is a must. Not only can proper attic ventilation help to prevent many of those signs that we mentioned above, as well as damaging ice dams, it could also help you hang onto your roof’s warranty. Many homeowners don’t realize this, but attic ventilation is such an essential piece of roof maintenance that you can actually void your roof’s warranty if your attic isn’t ventilated as it should be.
Turn to the professionals at Sargeant’s Roofing to get the attic ventilation you need.
Although the guidelines we’ve given you are a great first step towards determining if your roof is properly ventilated or not, they are also very general. The only way to know for sure if you have proper ventilation is to contact the experienced roofers at Sargeant’s Roofing, home of the two-hour guaranteed response time. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.