| Attic ventilation is a critical component to | | | | vent without a complicated filter which can |
| maintaining even temperatures in your attic all | | | | become clogged; I prefer the simple metal designs |
| year long. In the summer it saves on the life of | | | | for their simplistic efficient design and operation. |
| your shingles by keeping the boards cooler and | | | | Box vents while older and more dated can be |
| decreases your cooling costs in the winter | | | | efficient if there is a sufficient number of them |
| weather by diminishing the temperature | | | | located across the surface. If your attic already |
| difference which in turn prevents moisture build up | | | | has square, can, or box type vents but not |
| in the form of condensation. Did you know that | | | | enough of them, it can be a less expensive |
| having a proper amount of attic ventilation is even | | | | solution to an inadequate exhaust air problem. The |
| required to enforce the warranty of most shingle | | | | reason is simple they are cheap and easy to install |
| manufacturers?? When it comes to mold the | | | | and like the square intake vents can be easily |
| most import ventilation concerns occur in the | | | | purchased in several colors to match any shingle. |
| winter. In the winter during the coldest months as | | | | If you have a hip roof there may be insufficient |
| we run our furnaces, hot air escapes into the cold | | | | ridge length to allow for sufficient out-take; box |
| unheated attic space. When the escaping hot air | | | | vents can be an ideal solution for this problem. |
| emerges into the cold attic it rises as heat always | | | | Powered vents work well, but are dependent |
| does. It seeks out the highest portions of the | | | | upon electricity for operation. This both costs |
| attic where it then coalesces against the cold | | | | money and is subject to wear and tear of |
| boards of the roof. This hot- | | | | moving parts. Additionally in the event of power |
| air-mass-meets-cold-surface phenomena results in | | | | outages can leave the attic over heated, for |
| a condition known as dew point, which creates | | | | these reasons the author does not recommend |
| moisture in the form of water droplets and ice | | | | them. |
| crystals. The nails themselves also will contribute | | | | Beware of mixing two different kinds of |
| to this moisture problem as iron is a good | | | | ventilation!!! |
| conductor of temperature and will readily convey | | | | By far one of the most common, and the most |
| the biting chill of cold winter air directly inside the | | | | troubling ventilation mistakes is the mixed use of |
| attic. The evidence of this, can be seen in the | | | | two completely different ventilation systems. For |
| form of drips and of drip spots underneath the | | | | example mixing a ridge vent with a box vent or a |
| nails themselves. | | | | previously installed power vent or gable end |
| Bathroom fans vented directly into the attic or | | | | vents. What goes wrong is this: air always follows |
| Soffet areas rather than straight through the roof | | | | the path of least resistance and looks for the |
| are also to blame for exacerbated moisture | | | | nearest opening , often the ridge will draft air |
| problems which lead to mold, wood- rot and | | | | from the box vents and short circuit the entire |
| health problems. The more adults showering in the | | | | exhaust air systems, eliminating any chance of |
| house and the longer the showers the more | | | | correcting the water/moisture issues. It can also |
| moisture will enter an attic. In fact in some | | | | bring unwanted weather snow debris etc into the |
| families the bathroom fans alone are the sole | | | | attic because box vents and gable end vents |
| culprit responsible for major mold infestations! | | | | were not meant to be intake vents, which can |
| If you want to eliminate attic mold permanently | | | | cause tremendous damage! So remember don't |
| you NEED to get EQUAL amounts of Intake Air | | | | mix two ventilation systems pick one and stick |
| and Exhaust or Out-take Air into your Attic! | | | | with it ensuring there is enough of whatever vent |
| Building scientists have proven that using a | | | | system you choose. |
| balanced ventilation system that utilizes equal | | | | Is correcting my ventilation a cure for a mold |
| amounts incoming and out going air. Incoming air | | | | problem in my attic? |
| comes in from under the eves through vents cut | | | | Sadly NO, it is not a cure for mold but just for |
| in the underside of the roof overhangs which are | | | | ventilation problems which create moisture issues. |
| called soffets. Proper soffet ventilation is essential | | | | No matter who installs your ventilation system in |
| to large amounts of incoming air needed for | | | | the winter if you are running supplemental heat in |
| intake. Many attics were originally vented properly | | | | your home your attic will be subject to some |
| but have become packed with insulation along the | | | | moisture from time to time during the coldest |
| way by an over-zealous insulation contractor or | | | | days. For this reason and several others it is a |
| homeowner, in an attempt to actually stop air | | | | must to actually treat the mold with a system |
| from coming in, sadly a common mistake. This | | | | designed to remove it completely without leaving |
| mistake was very common in the 80's and 90's. | | | | behind mold or poisonous heavy metals paints and |
| There are two basic types of Soffet vents: either | | | | chemicals that can make your family sick. Even |
| a contiguous vent or a individual vents which | | | | dead mold can still affect your health and make |
| come in round and square varieties. I generally | | | | your family sick. It is also a good idea to hire a |
| prefer to use 6 inch by 12 inch square vents | | | | mold contractor with a ventilation expert on staff, |
| because of the ease of installation and the low | | | | because hiring a roofing contractor and a mold |
| material cost. They work surprisingly well and | | | | contractor is always more expensive! |
| offer a lot of surface area. They can be | | | | Did you know most contractors use toxic |
| purchased easily in brown white and silver to | | | | chemicals to kill mold which may contains |
| match virtually any siding. | | | | carcinogens which are cancer causing agents? |
| Out-take air, exhaust air ventilation can take 4 | | | | In fact ,sadly, I have seen many many attic |
| basic forms: Gable end vents, ridge vents, box | | | | projects fail after so-called "professional |
| vents or power vents. Of the four the ridge vent | | | | treatments" :( ! That's why we train other |
| is to be preferred, due to its location at the | | | | contractors from around the world in the efficient |
| highest point of the attic, namely the ridge. | | | | removal of mold using family-safe all natural |
| Because heat always rises it is passively efficient | | | | products that are absolutely lethal to mold. For |
| at exhausting large amounts of heated air without | | | | detailed diagrams and photos of ventilation |
| the use of electricity. Be sure to select a ridge | | | | projects feel free to visit us or call us directly! |