From powered fans to turbine whirly vents that operate automatically, homeowners in the Atlanta area have many options for attic ventilation. Unfortunately, not every roof ventilator system presents benefits for homes, which is why it takes a careful examination of both home exhaust and insulation to get it right. Here are the pros and cons of ventilating your attic and how to determine what is right for your home.
Benefits of Ventilation in Your Attic
Summer temperatures range near 90 degrees in Atlanta, but the temperature on a roof and inside an attic can go much higher. In some cases, attic temperatures will soar above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This intense heat can make your home uncomfortable and cause shingles to deteriorate, which shortens the life span of your roof.
Well-ventilated attics bring that temperature down in the summer to help protect your home against these ill effects. While it may not seem logical to allow air inside your home during the summer and winter, ventilation in your attic is recommended by roofers and HVAC experts alike. ENERGY STAR notes that sufficient insulation in your attic floor keeps the temperatures appropriate for the season inside the attic while allowing your HVAC system to cool or heat your home as you see fit. In the winter, ventilation throughout your attic helps keep moisture levels down to avoid related damage to the roof.
Proper Attic Ventilation and How It Can Go Wrong
As with any aspect of home performance, it is possible to ventilate your attic incorrectly, which leads to wasted energy and expense. A common do-it-yourself mistake homeowners make is adding so much insulation in an attic that it blocks the flow of air. In these instances, even the best ventilating systems are unable to do their job.
Other problems occur when your home’s exhaust system brings conditioned air into your attic. HVAC systems should provide comfort for the interior of your home but never for an attic. Heating and ventilation pros can work out the right system so that your HVAC system is never working harder than it should, which means keeping your attic out of the equation.
Choices in Attic Ventilators
Most homeowners will benefit from adding roof-mounted fans or gable-mounted fans to keep ventilation at the right level. With a motorized roof fan, you will see a circular panel on your roof. Inside your attic is the actual fan, which is connected to a thermostat. The fan will only turn on when the temperature passes 95 degrees, and it will pull air through soffit vents and push air outside the house through vents near the roof. Keeping the attic temperature below 95 degrees is the goal.
Gable-mounted vent fans work on the same principle as roof-mounted fans. In both cases, you must have the proper ventilation system throughout your house for you to see benefits in comfort. When air that is conditioned by your HVAC system is going into your attic, the problem must be addressed before you add any fans.
Reliable specializes in the installation and servicing of all types of attic ventilation equipment. Whether you need to increase airflow in your attic or improve the exhaust from your kitchen, bathrooms and clothes dryer, Reliable offers affordable solutions to keep your home comfortable and save energy at the same time.