Attic Vents

Are attic vents necessary? Any homeowner with an attic knows there are certain challenges to maintaining the space under the roof. Attics are notorious for being the perfect place for mold, mildew, roof rot and other structural problems to occur.

In the last several decades, building codes have called for increased attic insulation. Most experts contend that a well-ventilated attic keeps the house more comfortable in summer and guards against moist, heated air building up in winter. There are also dissenting voices who say that the benefits of ventilation are overrated.

Who's right? Obviously more research is needed, but here's what is known: Don't avoid ventilating your attic for fear you're letting cold air into the house. Your actual living space is sealed and insulated at the attic floor.

If there are asphalt shingles on your roof, the attic must be ventilated to comply with the terms of the manufacturer's warranty.

One reason for the lack of agreement over attic ventilation is the tremendous variation in climate across North America. Rarely will you find a building practice that works everywhere.

For instance, attic ventilation is used widely in cold climates to evacuate the warm, moist air that escapes from the living space below. If this air lingers, it can condense on the underside of the roof sheathing and cause the wood to rot.

A healthy airflow also helps with ice dams, which begin to form when warm air in the attic melts snow and creates runoff that refreezes on the colder eave. Great, but neither of these problems is experienced in warmer climates.

If your home is fitted solely with small gable-end vents or a ventilator high in the roof, you might want to consider adding soffit vents to increase airflow. These vents allow outside air to enter the attic at the lowest point of the roof—along the eave. They're most effective when used in conjunction with a continuous ridge vent.

Soffit vents come in several sizes and styles, including small round discs and rectangular grilles. Another option is aluminum strip vents that measure 3 in. wide X 8 ft. long.

This style vent provides a quick way to ventilate every rafter bay. Strip vents come in white, brown and silver; you'll pay less than $3 for an 8-ft. length.

To make the buying process less complicated and to ensure you end up with the ventilation system that is going to work best for your needs, here are some helpful tips on what to look for when searching for attic vents for the home.

House Fan vs Attic Fan

Many homeowners get confused thinking that a fan for the attic is the same as a house fan. However, the two are very different.

While the house fan's purpose is to maintain the interior temperature of the home according to the thermostat setting, the attic vent is designed solely for the attic, providing ventilation, drawing out hot air, and preventing moisture build up.

Electric Or Solar?

You could choose from attic vents that operate on electricity or on solar power. Of the two, the latter is by far the most popular due to the tremendous cost savings, and it being an environmentally friendly solution.

For equipment that runs on electricity, it is highly recommended you have a roof mounted design, installed by a professional, to avoid potential water leaks. For a solar powered system, look for a fan that comes with a 25-year warranty, which is now considered standard.

Thermostat

Although optional, it is recommended that you choose attic vents connected to a thermostat. You could purchase this as an add-on, but with all the benefits provided and with the thermostat being so cheap, it would be worth getting it from the start.

Another thing you will discover is that most of the solar panels designed for this type of ventilation system are available in 10 or 20-watts. While 10-watt is fine, you would likely benefit more by choosing the 20-watt panel.

Installation

Today, many home products are designed so the homeowner can complete the installation. The same is true when it comes to fans to help vent the attic.

However, one of the easiest options is the gable fan, which works great. Therefore, if you plan to do the installation yourself, we suggest you look at this particular type of fan or at least, gain a full understanding of the time and process involved for installing other types of fans.

Attics are notorious for being the perfect place for mold, mildew, roof rot and other structural problems. In addition to making sure the area is properly ventilated, there is also the need to make sure air circulates around and out of the space. This is where an attic vents come into play.

Just as your attic fan needs an open vent to pull fresh air into the attic, there has to be a way for the hot air to escape. This could be done with unobstructed ridge vents, or soffit vents (located under the eaves) that are not blocked with insulation.

An alternative is to install a vent fan that is made for roof mounting. This works especially well if you have a shingled roof and have plastic roof ridge vents.

With this type of fan, you would mount it as close to the peak of your roof as possible and as close to opposite the vents that will allow fresh air into the space.

Attic vents will help keep down the temperature in your attic, as well as help prevent the mold and mildew that often accompany areas with little to no air flow. You can check out your options at your local home store.

Contact me if you have questions about attic vents by clicking here.

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