What You Need to Know About Attic Ventilation and Your Roof

Our homes are their own living and breathing entities in a way. They take air in from the outside and must also be able to expel that air and moisture from the inside. You probably don’t give much thought to your roof’s ventilation system on a day-to-day basis but understanding how attic and roof ventilation works in your home is important for prolonging the life of your roof and enabling your home to work most efficiently from an energy perspective.

Attic Ventilation Explained

A home’s attic ventilation system consists of intake vents and exhaust vents. Intake vents are lower on your roof, generally along the soffits. These draw in cooler air from outside. Then, warm air in your attic makes its way up eventually rising to the highest point in your roofline. From there, it escapes out the exhaust vents along the roof peak or ridge.

Gable roofs, with their peaked design, are advantageous in terms of attic ventilation because they offer more space for the air to move around.

Why You Need Proper Roof Ventilation

Your roof does not like holding in trapped air, and it will rebel in a few different ways if the air can’t escape. In the summer, excessive heat in your attic can damage your roof deck, deteriorate the adhesive under your shingles and cause them to curl or crack.

In the winter, warmer air and moisture from inside your home will travel up to your cooler attic and cause condensation. Condensation can lead to mold issues as well as cause your roof deck to swell. In either case – warm air or cold – your roof is not happy if there is no ventilation.

Moreover, from an energy standpoint, trapped air in your attic can lead to increased temperatures in your home. In turn, your A/C unit will have to work harder, and your energy bills will be higher.

To have your roof checked for adequate ventilation, get in touch with our team at Storm Guard of SW Austin. Ensuring proper airflow in your attic can be a simple way to prolong the life of your roof and improve your energy efficiency. Call us today at 512-843-0078.