How To Ventilate Your Attic

The code minimum for attic ventilation in the 2012 irc section r806 roof ventilation 1 is as follows.

How to ventilate your attic.

Attic fans are intended to cool hot attics by drawing in cooler outside air from attic vents soffit and gable and pushing hot air to the outside. That keeps your attic dry and reduces ice dams. However if your attic has blocked soffit vents and is not well sealed from the rest of the house attic fans will suck cool conditioned air up out of the house and into the. Exhaust vents which are located near or on the ridge line of the roof and allow air to leave the attic.

In the winter warm moist air seeps into the attic from the living space below. Here are four signs of an unventilated or under. Good ventilation allows the heat and moisture to escape. Don t avoid ventilating your attic for fear you re letting cold air into the house.

Just like properly sizing your furnace and air conditioning unit you want precisely the right amount of attic ventilation for your home. Begin by making sure your existing system works photos 1 and 3 plugging major air leaks into the attic photo 2 and correcting any other of the common causes of poor attic venting. If there are asphalt shingles on your roof the attic must be ventilated to comply with the terms of the manufacturer s warranty. Of net free area for every 150 sq.

This means for every 150 square feet of attic floor space there should be 1 square foot of net free area. Ventilation of attic spaces is required by most building codes as well as by roofing material manufacturers and the national roofing contractors association nrca. If those steps don t solve the problem add more soffit vents following the. How to check attic ventilation.

Ventilation can be accomplished using various products and techniques. Your actual living space is sealed and insulated at the attic floor the attic is outside this envelope. Moreover if you have asphalt shingles on the roof attic. Before we explore how to ventilate an attic space it is prudent to understand how much ventilation is needed.

Ensuring your home has the proper attic ventilation according to these guidelines however can save yourself the stress and hassle of an emergency roof repair. How to properly ventilate your attic. How attic ventilation works. To avoid rotting wood clumping insulation and mold your attic needs to be properly ventilated.

If you have either ice dams or moisture buildup improve your attic ventilation. Insufficient ventilation can lead to moisture problems during the winter and decreased energy efficiency during the summer but too much ventilation can be just as bad if not worse. That cuts cooling costs and prolongs shingle life. To properly ventilate an attic two types of vents are needed.