It is a fact that most homeowners are not adequately informed about the importance of attic ventilation. It is good to know that a properly ventilated attic can prolong the life of your roof. To do that, you should properly gauge the quantum of ventilation your attic requires. If you have scant air circulation in you attic, you will needlessly waste energy in cooling your home in the summer months and in cooler weather, it will mean poor ventilation. The popular misconception about attic ventilation is that it is strictly for warm weather. Whereas the truth is, it is the cool weather that poses greatest risk to poorly ventilated attics. Also, do not be misled into believing that the size of the vent reflects the amount of ventilation. In fact, there are several factors that influence ventilation, including the grates that keep debris from entering your home.

Attic fans are intended to cool hot attics by drawing in cooler outside air from attic vents and ejecting hot air to the outside. But, if your attic has blocked soffit vents and if not well-sealed from the rest of the house, attic fans will use more energy and increase your utility bill. You certainly would not want your unfinished attic cooled by your air conditioner. To prevent this, make sure the attic is well-ventilated using passive vents and natural air flow. Thus, the best thing to do would be to speak to a roofing expert to get proper guidance to improve your attic ventilation.

Regardless of the roof geometry, there is usually a small amount of built-in ventilation where the roof and wall structures meet. This slight space allows for light to shine through and some amount of air circulation through the attic. A simple and universally accepted formula is that for every 300 square feet of space you have in your attic, you will need one square foot of ventilation. One standard method to determine if the existing ventilation is adequate is to place a thermometer in the attic on a warm, windless day and if the temperature is beyond 10 to 15 degrees F above the outside temperature, then more ventilation is recommended. The outside temperature is typically lower than the temperature in the attic especially in the summer months. If the attic is not ventilated properly, the attic temperature may be 20 or 30 degrees F warmer than the outside temperature. In addition to the standard ventilators like gable, louvers, soffit vents, and ridge vents, for attic areas, there are wind turbine exhaust vents and motorized attic vent fans

Please remember that moisture from exhaust vents originating in the kitchen, bath, and laundry should terminate to the exterior of the house. They should never terminate in the attic area because they may heighten the relative humidity, creating mold and compromising the insulation. Although doing your own research may be helpful on the type and amount of ventilation your attic may need, the better alternative would be to find a roofer or a home inspector who will professionally determine the types of ventilation that work best in your attic area. Adequate roof ventilation minimizes cooling bills, prolongs shingle life, and prevents roof rot and ice dams in winter. Both roof and soffit vents will effectively protect your house from costly future repairs. .