5 Reasons Why Roof Ventilation Is Important

Roof Ventilation

Most property owners often overlook and underplay the important role of roof ventilation to their property. As a homeowner, you should understand that apart from your roof, gutter, sidings, and windows, another essential aspect of home protection is the roof vents. It is not a secret that most homeowners are unfamiliar with roof vents. If it is the first time you have heard of such terms, there is no need to worry, simply read further to learn more.

Why Roof Ventilation Is Important?

1. Prevents Condensation, Mold, and Rot

One of the most important aspects of proper roof ventilation is to help prevent condensation, which ultimately leads to mold and rot. Your home produces a lot more moisture than you think. Laundry, showers and bathing, cooking and more all produce warm, damp air inside the living space of your home. This moisture gravitates upwards to your home’s ceilings, and if a vapor barrier is not in place, it eventually lands in the attic. If a cool surface, like the underside of your roof, is reached by the warm air, it will condense. The condensation caused by this “trapping” of air can create an unhealthy environment prone to the biological growth of mold and mildew. Properly ventilating your roof and attic space keeps your insulation dry and prevents these condensation-caused damages.

2. Increases Energy Efficiency

Ensuring you have proper attic and roof ventilation helps to reduce your home’s cooling costs by allowing heat to escape. As the temperatures outside begin to rise, the temperature inside your home does too. If you do not have proper ventilation, the heat will be trapped inside your home’s attic, causing your air conditioning to work harder.

3. Increases Roof’s Lifespan

Not adequately ventilating your roof and attic can dramatically reduce the lifespan of your roof. As we mentioned, condensation, rot, and mold can be a result. A non-ventilated roof can also cause extremely hot attics. Where the heat builds up and eventually causes damage to the wood framing, rafters, underlayment and more. Ensuring your roof is evenly and properly ventilated helps that air to escape and extends the lifetime of your roofing system.

4. Reduces Indoor Temperature Extremes

If you’ve ever walked upstairs and felt a drastic change in temperature, it may be a result of poorly or not ventilated roofing. Indoor temperature extremes can be avoided with proper ventilation. It allows hot air to escape and cool air to enter the space. This can also help prevent super-heated attics, which can also impact your heating and cooling costs. Overall, ensuring proper ventilation will help your home be more comfortable during the entire year.

5. Prevents Ice Damming

If you live in a climate where snow and ice occur, having proper attic ventilation minimizes your risk of experiencing damaging ice dams. Ice dams are typically caused by warm air reaching the roof deck. Which then results in the snow on your roof melting. This melted snow can run down your roof and refreeze over the home’s overhangs, forming ice dams.