A HOT ATTIC CAN DAMAGE YOUR ROOF
During summer months, you might not give your roof much thought but you should. An overheated attic is a leading cause of premature aging of your roof shingles.
Attics in the summer can quickly reach 150 to 180 degrees. The heat that builds up in your attic can radiate to through your roof sheathing and may result in cracked or curled roof tiles.
Drying of caulk and asphalt shingles can shorten the life of your roof by destroying the structure. The heat can also cause your roof to expand. If your attic space is very hot, it could damage your roof decking, causing the roof top to warp and break down.
ATTIC VENTILATION
The good news is, there is an affordable way to prevent this from happening – proper attic ventilation. Attic ventilation, if done right, can prevent heat buildup in your attic, reduce utility bills, and protect your home from damage and moisture issues in winter too!
Attic ventilation should be designed to ensure regular cross ventilation to include the proper amount of exhaust and intake venting.
During hot summer days, when the sun is beating down on your roof, heat is transferred to your attic. Without attic ventilation, ambient air in your attic can get very hot.
Good attic ventilation allows cooler outside air to rise into the attic and displace hot air through properly placed exhaust vents.
COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS
Attic ventilation is far less expensive than roof replacement – with a quick return on your investment. Attic ventilation can reduce utility costs by as much as 40%, according to the EPA. When hot air is removed from your attic, you will run your air conditioner less saving on utility costs and prevent wear and tear that otherwise can shorten the lifecycle of your system.
CONSIDER AN ATTIC FAN
You can accelerate the process by adding an attic fan. A powered attic fan can speed the process of displacing hot air by drawing hot air out and pulling in fresh air at a much faster pace.
Attic fans are equipped with a thermostat that activates at a set temperature. When your attic reaches the set temperature the attic fan activates until the attic temperatures drop. This helps ensure your roof doesn’t overheat, leading to premature aging of tiles.
PREVENT MOISTURE PROBLEMS
Additionally, an attic fan can remove moisture from your attic which can be important during winter months when doors and windows are closed all day and moisture from cooking, bathing, and cleaning rises into the attic. Without proper ventilation, moisture vapors in the attic can lead to problems with mold, insulation damage, and wood rot eventually leading to costly repairs.
Attic fans can be equipped with a humidistat that measures the moisture level in the attic. When moisture levels rise, that fan activates to remove moist air.
An attic fan is an affordable option, that can be installed quickly. It will cut your cooling costs in summer, protect your insulation investment, your roof structure, and minimize moisture and mold problems provided you have proper intake vents installed.
THE ATTIC EXPERTS
We are The Attic Experts – we have helped thousands of homeowners correct attic ventilation issues. Call us for a free attic inspection today at 630.941.3800.