It is very important to learn why proper attic ventilation is important to your roof and comfort of your home. Louisiana Landsource is certainly known for land for sale in Louisiana, but did you know Landsource has decades of experience in home improvement projects? If you’re looking for land for sale in Louisiana or a great new home, check out some of these great Parishes to live in, Bienville Parish, Catahoula Parish, Claiborne Parish, Franklin Parish, Jackson Parish, and Lincoln Parish, LA.
To eliminate heat in your attic, you need to let it out, but that’s not the whole picture. Heat and moisture are reduced in your attic space as a result of an effective ventilation system. Your HVAC system is more efficient as a result. In turn, this increases the life of your roof as well.
You lose air from your attic through roof vents (exhausts), but you have to replace it. Where does the cooler air come from if you want it replaced? It is necessary to have intake vents in addition to exhaust vents. It is usually the coolest under the overhangs around your house, as it is always shaded. Thus, intake ventilation should be located in the soffit. Ventilated soffits are a convenient way to replace the hot air that escapes through the roof vents with cooler air from your attic.
The amount of intake should be at least equal to the amount of exhaust. For every 150 square feet of attic space, 1 square foot should be utilized for ventilation; half will be for intake and half will be for exhaust.
By following these guidelines, you will extend the life of your roof and save money in the long run. There are a few signs that you may not have enough ventilation if you observe the following:
- Excessive heat in the attic during the summer months
- Mold growth
- Frost on sheathing, rafters, or other items in the attic
- Water dripping from tips of nails (not necessarily due to a roof leak)
Choosing Exhaust Vents for Your Attic Ventilation System
For exhaust ventilation to be most effective, it should be installed at or near the highest point of your roof where hot, humid air can easily escape. There are three types of exhaust vents: static, powered, and mechanical.
1. Static Exhaust Vents
The reason static exhaust vents do not require electricity is that they make use of the natural airflow caused by rising hot air.
Different Vent Types
A static exhaust vent can be classified into three types:
Most homes have ridge vents since they are an effective and relatively easy way to exhaust air at the highest point of the roof: the ridge. The location is ideal for letting hot air escape from the attic. Due to their low profile, ridge vents also blend into the finished roof. Roof shingles cover them.
Hip vents:
Similarly, ridge vents and hip vents have a similar design and function. Roofs with very limited ridge areas or no ridges benefit from these fans. To achieve a uniform appearance, hip vents are usually installed along the entire length of the hip, but air slots beneath them are only located on the top portion of the hip. The hip vent can also be combined with a ridge vent, depending on the design of your roof.
Roof louvers:
For modern roof designs, hip roofs, small roof areas, and those with no or little ridgeline, roof louvers, also known as box vents, can be used as exhaust vents. Due to their small size, roof louvers typically require multiple vents to provide the proper amount of exhaust ventilation. A streamlined appearance is achievable by installing the louvers on the back of the roof. New and existing roofs may be fitted with the louvers.
2. Powered Exhaust Vents
Vents powered by electricity remove a great deal of warm, humid air from the attic. The vents come in different cubic feet per minute (CFM) airflow ratings: the larger the CFM airflow rating, the faster the vents exhaust air out of the attic. Vents with powered operation typically include a thermostat, although some models have humidistats and thermostats as options.
Powered Exhaust Vents
Powered exhaust vents fall into two categories:
Roof-mounted:
In Installed over the roof deck openings, these exhaust vents can be powered by electricity, solar, or both.
Gable-mounted:
Unlike roof penetration vents, this type of exhaust vent can be easily installed inside the attic.
3. Mechanical Exhaust Vents
Excess heat and moisture can be removed from the attic by mechanical exhaust vents such as wind turbines. When the wind is strong enough, the turbine spins and draws heat and moisture from the attic. Due to their location above the roof surface, turbines stand out more than other exhaust options, but they move air efficiently. The function of these devices is similar to that of an exhaust vent in the absence of wind.
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