Attic Ventilation Requirements

Most people hardly bother about the insulation or ventilation of their attics. In fact, the only times they step in their attic is when there is an unannounced visit from an intruder, such as bat or a squirrel, or to inspect if there are any leakages in the roof.

But did you know that poor ventilation may force you to pay hundreds of dollars in excess towards utility bills? There are some simple ways of minimizing your electricity and other utility bills, out of which, attic ventilation and insulation are the easiest.

Let us know a few attic venting requirements that will allow you to effectively reduce your energy consumption.

It has been observed that less than 10% of homes follow the norms of proper attic ventilation. The remaining homes have no insulation at all or have poor insulation. Given below is a checklist to ensure proper ventilation in attic against various environmental parameters.

• Heat:
  Density of hot air is less, and hence, it has a tendency to move upwards. Due to lack of attic insulation, the air gets trapped there. This hot air then moves to your living space and heats up your entire home. During summer, the temperature of attic is about 155-160°F, whereas the outdoor temperature is only around 105°F. 

The air conditioning system works according to the difference in interior and exterior temperature. Thus, a difference of about 50°F puts a substantial load on your air conditioner. As a result, it draws more power to keep working and maintain optimum temperature in the house.

Hence, it is a must to have vents located as high as possible in the attic so that exchange of air takes place, and attic does not get heated up.

• Moisture:Trapped moisture can play havoc with your insulation and roof. During winter, in the absence of proper ventilation, the air condenses and moisture gets trapped inside the attic, which may creep into the insulation and soak it. Wet insulation is completely useless and serves no purpose. 

Trapped moisture also finds its way inside the wall, and causes the paint to bubble, peel, and crack. It also causes tremendous damage to roof, and reduces its life by several years. It also promotes mold and mildew growth, and can inflict lasting damage upon your entire structure.

• Rain and Snow:If you have improper vents in your attic, you would be inviting rain and snow right inside your house. Improperly designed vents do not pull in sufficient air, and as a result, a reverse effect is demonstrated by pulling in of rain and snow during storms. A properly ventilated attic pushes out rain and snow, and protects your home.

Improperly ventilated attic aggravates the deterioration of roofing shingles and forces them to wear out at a much faster rate. If you have a poorly ventilated home, your shingle manufacturer might void his warranty. No matter what type of ventilation you use for your home, it is imperative that you have one square feet of ventilation per 300 feet of area.

Out of this one square feet ventilation, half should be reserved for air intake while the remainder should be for exhaust purpose. Thus, if you adhere to attic ventilation rules and requirements, you can easily reduce your electricity bills and extend the life of your roof and other structures.