Roof Ventilation: Why It’s Important

When it comes to your roof it’s important to make sure it remains healthy throughout it’s lifespan and proper maintenance is completed. One overlooked aspect of a roof that may be affecting your home’s energy efficiency and health is adequate roof ventilation. Sometimes roofs are poorly ventilated from the start or may develop gaps and cracks as time goes on. To understand why roof ventilation is crucial to your home’s health take a look at the information we’ve gathered below:

 

Dangers Of Improper Ventilation

Roof ventilation not only affects your roof, but can affect your entire home’s heating and cooling systems. During cold seasons roof ventilation helps to release any heat collected in the attic. Heat that accumulates in the attic is dangerous during the winter season because it can prematurely thaw snow and ice on your roof, leading to ice dams. During warmer weather, improper roof ventilation will trap heat in the attic and have a significant impact on your cooling systems, making your home less energy efficient. Proper roof ventilation is crucial in releasing unwanted stored heat in the attic to protect your roof and your climate control systems.

 

Another danger of poor roof ventilation is moisture buildup. Without an adequate way to escape, trapped moisture can have significantly damaging effects to the substructure of your roof. Overtime mold and mildew could develop, nails could rust and even break and moisture could also cause your roof deck to rot. Adequate ventilation will provide an escape route for heat and moisture and prevent these costly calamities.

 

Roof Ventilation

There are several types of roof ventilation methods and the best option for your roof system varies home to home. To find out what ventilation method is best for your home and roof system it’s best to consult an expert roofer. To give you a basic run down, here are some of the main methods:

 

Soffit Vents & Ridge Vents: These two ventilation systems work in tandem. Proper ventilation systems provide a point of entry and point of exit. Soffit vents are found underneath a roof’s overhang. Alternatively, ridge vents run along the peak of a roof, providing an escape route for hot air and any moisture in the attic. Both of these ventilation systems work together and allow your home and building to breathe.

Attic Fans: To really help with ventilation, attic fans or whole house fans may be installed to draw out warm attic air through roof vents and out of your home.

Gable Vents: These vents can be found on either end of your home under the peak of your roof and on the siding. They help air flow out of the attic, while preventing snow and moisture to enter.

 

To find out if your roof is properly ventilated consult the professionals. At A-Preferred Roofing, we are more than happy to asses your ventilation system and make any necessary repairs to ensure that your roof system is healthy. For a roof inspection or repairs give us a call or click here for a free quote.