How Does Attic Ventilation Work

Attic fans are intended to cool hot attics by drawing in cooler outside air from attic vents.

How does attic ventilation work.

This air is then exhausted through the fan to the outside. At first it may seem odd to add insulation for warmth and then purposely allow cold air to. Are ridge vents better. Proper attic ventilation offers all these benefits.

The purpose of attic ventilation is so that heat can leave the attic when the air conditioner turns on and is trying to circulate cold air around the house. Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents. Attic vents are all i need for attic ventilation. About attic ventilation natural attic ventilation.

It helps prevent moisture from becoming trapped in insulation structural wood shingles and roof deck it. If you have too much attic ventilation you may also have too much roof penetration which can cause blowouts during a hurricane. An attic ventilator is essentially a port where air can escape to the outdoors. When it is cold outside the ventilation system will work by maintaining the cold temperature so that ice will not melt on the roof and create ice dams.

How an attic fan works attic fans exhaust hot air from your attic to the outside. In cold climates the primary purpose of attic or roof ventilation is to maintain a cold roof temperature to control ice dams created by melting snow and to vent moisture that moves from the conditioned space to the attic ventilation acts to bypass the vapour barrier created by most roof membranes. With no air conditioning vents pumping in cool air and the hot sun beating down on the roof right over your head attic temperatures can soar. It promotes a cool dry attic.

Most effective ventilation uses a ridge and soffit continuous ventilation system but even these designs can vary from roof to roof. It allows outside air to flow naturally upward and out of attic. Certain types of vents actually trap air in the top of your attic. Unless you have a finished attic you probably aren t fond of spending time up there during a hot summer day.

Hot air exhaust vents located at the peak of the roof allow hot air to escape. Soffit vents may leave air trapped at the top of your attic. Roof vents remove wintertime s heated air. Static roof line vents are effective for ventilation but generally aren t recommended due to issues with leaks.

It helps minimize the impact of ice damming. But with proper ventilation you can at least bring those temperatures down to match that of the outdoor air.