Are Attic Vents Really Needed?

Insulating your home's attic is one of the most important things you can do, not only for the energy benefits but for the life of your roof. Attic ventilation is important as well, but it is often the last thing anyone thinks about, if they do at all.

There are a variety of vent types installed in attic. The purpose of these vents is to help your attic breathe and keep it from building up moisture that will eventually cause mildew and mold, leading to a whole other batch of problems. The professionals at Dun-Rite Roofing recommend attic ventilation that has both soffit and ridge vents. This can be done by do-it-yourselfers, however the job can become difficult and if not done properly, can actually cause more damage and harm than it prevents.

Attic ventilation helps your home during the hotter times of the year because it lowers the temperature in the attic. With a lower temperature in the attic, your energy bill will lower as well because your AC unit isn't working as hard.

Proper attic ventilation in the winter minimizes the moisture as we discussed. Installing vapor barriers will help with minimizing the moisture, but the attic vents actually let air circulate through the attic, keeping that moisture moving.

Whether you store something in the attic or not, a trip up there to check for possible leaks is always wise so you can catch those things before they become bigger problems. Some things to look for are water dripping, water spots, rusty nails, or stained wood. Should you see any of these things, call a professional roofing contractor such as Dun-Rite Roofing immediately to have the problem assessed and a quote provided to fix the problem.