If your attic doesn't have proper ventilation, the trapped hot and cold air will shorten your roof's lifespan. The trapped air can cause extensive damage to your roof and leads to a full replacement well before you should need one.
Proper ventilation in your attic helps address excess heat and moisture that can otherwise wreak havoc on your home. Heat and moisture buildup in an attic cause predictable but different problems in hot and cold climates; areas with hot summers and cold winters can suffer the effects of both.
Shingles get very hot and prematurely age when poor roof ventilation keeps the attic too warm. Ice dams are a sign of poor roof ventilation, and they cause damage to shingles and eaves. If left untreated, they can even cause roof leaks.
Poor attic ventilation can cause all sorts of serious problems, such as ice dams, mold and mildew, and a shortened roof lifespan. Without proper ventilation, moisture can end up significantly damaging the roofing system. Sagging decking – Excess moisture from the attic can end up seeping into the roof decking.
Most codes use the 1/300 rule for minimum residential attic ventilation recommendations. This means that for every 300 square feet of enclosed attic space, 1 square foot of ventilation is required – with half at the upper portion (exhaust vents) and half in the lower portion (intake vents).
Rafter vents should be placed in your attic ceiling in between the rafters at the point where your attic ceiling meets your attic floor. Once they are in place, you can then place the batts or blankets, or blow insulation, right out to the very edge of the attic floor.
They're supposed to help cool your house, but do attic fans really work? The answer is yes. Attic fans lower your air conditioning bill by removing the heat at the top of the house. They can also help cool the second floor, and in fact, they even prevent moisture from building up beneath your roof.
Poor ventilation systems, however, can cause potential health problems resulting in decreased productivity and increased sick leave. Good ventilation systems: remove contaminants, such as pollutants, bacteria, moisture and unpleasant odours, including body odours and can reduce the spread of airborne viruses.
Polluted air in combination with poor ventilation causes dry throat and eyes, concentration disorders, fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath, poor sleep, drowsiness, dizziness. In addition, complaints may develop such as chronic colds or respiratory infections, development of asthma or other lung diseases.
Attic fan installation ranges from $300 to $900 (CAD 400 to CAD 1,200), according to HomeGuide. Prices vary depending on the type of fan you choose to install, whether permits are required for installation and any materials you may need, such as wiring or roofing material to replace shingles and seal holes.
Keep an eye out for compacted insulation, mold or mildew, dark discoloration of the plywood, and odors. You may even discover condensation. All are signs that the ventilation system may be insufficient. A roof over a space that collects and holds moisture will fail.
For some attics, roof and soffit vents alone may not provide enough ventilation. Installing gable vents can provide the additional airflow needed. Placed at the gable ends of the roof, these vents often have controllable openings oriented to drive air out of the attic.
In a poorly ventilated attic, condensation can accumulate on trusses and the underside of the roof. This water drips down onto flooring or joists, and over time, causes mold, mildew, or rot to develop.
If there are ducts in the attic and the return ducts have holes in them, attic air can also be sucked into the house through those duct leaks.
In much the same way as you would want to use the right amount of heating or cooling with your HVAC system, you will also want the right amount of ventilation in your attic. An attic space that offers too much ventilation can affect the quality and performance of your chosen insulation method.
If you live in a home with poor air quality, you may notice dryness, peeling, flaking, rashes, or redness on any portion of your skin. If you suffer from eczema, acne, or another skin condition, poor air quality may exacerbate your symptoms.
Common pulmonary complications of mechanical ventilation include barotrauma, lung injury, and pneumonia. Others include endotracheal tube complications, respiratory muscle weakness, and secretion retention. Barotrauma — Pulmonary barotrauma is a well-known complication of positive pressure ventilation.
Indicators of SBS include:
Building occupants complain of symptoms associated with acute discomfort, e.g., headache; eye, nose, or throat irritation; dry cough; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty in concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to odors. The cause of the symptoms is not known.
Breathing in unhealthy levels of stale air can cause skin irritation, headaches, and fatigue, and can be especially dangerous for individuals with underlying conditions like allergies or respiratory problems.
HSE's Approved Code of Practice and guidance ( PDF ) states that 'The fresh-air supply rate should not normally fall below 5 to 8 litres per second, per occupant. ' A value of 10 litres per second per person is recommended in some building guides as a suitable value for most commercial buildings.
Attic vents must remain open year-round to avoid spending thousands of dollars on home repairs and electricity bills. Keeping your attic vents open even in winter may sound counterintuitive if you want to save on heating bills or if you want to keep your home safe during winter. But attic vents exist for a reason.
How Hot Do Attics Get? Without proper ventilation, your attic could reach 150 degrees in the summer heat. That's hot enough to cook an egg and permanently damage your roof.
A hot attic it makes for a hotter house. This results in higher cooling bills and the need for thicker insulation above the ceiling. Another problem is any ducting in the attic will be heated and the heat will transfer into any the duct and warm any cool air moving through it and into the home.
How Fast Do Molds Grow? Once enough moisture is present, molds can begin to grow in less than 48 hours! Water from leaks, condensation, and poor ventilation can cause a ticking mold time bomb.