Does Your Home Need Roof Ventilation?

Insufficient roof ventilation can wreak havoc on your home both inside and out. It can also result in a significant increase in your energy bills. Not only will you spend more money to heat and cool your living environment, but your carbon footprint will increase as well. Throughout the warm months of summer, hot air will build-up in the topmost portion of your home and then gradually move down into the areas that residents inhabit. Throughout the winter, the warm air that’s generated by your heating system will create excess moisture that builds up on your roof’s underside and attic ceiling.

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These are issues that can gradually degrade your property by causing problems with mold and mildew, and by undermining the integrity of your roof. Making an effort to properly ventilate your roof can preserve its lifespan, limit the need for costly repairs, and ensure that your indoor air quality is always high. In fact, ventilating your roof can additionally minimize demands on your home cooling equipment, thereby protecting the lifespan of this important home feature as well. Read on to discover why you may need better roof ventilation and how to get it.

High Energy Bills and Attic Rain

One sign that your roof isn’t properly ventilated is having to pay utility bills that are far higher than what’s expected for your home’s size. This is something that you want to be especially mindful of during the summer months. When roof ventilation is poor, solar heat combined with rising heat from the remainder of your home can start building up in the attic. In some buildings, this can lead to attic spaces with temperatures that are as high as 150 degrees. Over time, this excessively hot air will gradually pass through the attic flooring to make the living environment stuffy and downright uncomfortable. When it does, the air conditioning system will have to work overtime in order to create and maintain the desired temperature.

You may want to think about investing in better ventilation for your roof if you’ve got problems with mold at the rooftop. Easiest to see when it develops on light-colored shingles, roof mold can leave your shingles with long black streaks that diminish the curbside appeal of your entire property. Mold, moss, and fungi on the rooftop are generally indicative of a warm, moist environment at the building interior. In addition to being an eyesore, these growths can release spores that find their way into the home and into your home’s HVAC system. When they do, they can diminish the health of all building residents, especially those with chronic respiratory ailments such as asthma, COPD, and seasonal allergies.

If your roof hasn’t reached the end of its lifespan but has become soft and spongy, or is showing signs of rot and decay, poor ventilation is likely the culprit. Check the nails that hold your siding down as well as those that are present on other roofing features. If these or the venting duct straps are rusted, you’ve got a problem with moisture on the inside. Absent of proper ventilation, heat that’s produced at the interior of the home can lead to something known as attic rain. This occurs when excess moisture builds up on the underside of the roof or the attic ceiling, and eventually starts dripping or falling down.

Leaks, dampness and even frost in your attic are never good signs. Once these problems develop, you may start noticing areas of blistering and peeling paint both inside and outdoors. You can check for ceiling rot, warped building materials, and dank, musty smells in and around the attic. Having your roof correctly ventilated will resolve these problems and many others. Your home will be cleaner, safer, and infinitely more enjoyable to live in. If you think your home needs better attic ventilation, we can help you get it. Call us now at 913-850-6556.