“Roof vent” is a common term often applied to everything from plumbing stacks, to furnace vents and dryer exhausts. However, we define roof vents as the vents designed to remove hot air in the summer from the attic and moisture during the winter months. To see the different types of roof vents available, check out our blog post What Types & Styles of Roof Vents Are There?
Roof vents are critical in determining the life expectancy of your roof, utility costs and preventing interior damage from condensation and moisture.
This is a good question! All throughout the greater Atlanta area we see homes with mixed ventilation types. To find out more, read our article Can I Mix Different Roof Vent Types?
For most, summer signifies more time outside; ice cream, baseball, a return to the golf course, but it also means the return of unrelenting heat. That’s why most homes are shielded by attic insulation. However, if your attic isn’t vented, then you are making your air conditioner work harder than necessary.
Georgia summers, specifically the greater Atlanta area, can see asphalt shingles reach average temperatures of 125° F or more – some reports exceeding 150° F. This heat transfers from the shingles into your roof deck and lingers in the attic turning it into a veritable oven.
By installing a combination of soffit vents and exhaust vents, fresh air can circulate through your attic. In addition, heated air can effectively escape. As a result, this will lower the burden on your air conditioner, insulation and your power bill.
Ventilating your attic in the summer makes sense, but how does opening it to cold air in the winter help?
In fact, the importance of cooling your attic in the winter has less to do with comfort or utilities. Instead, it focuses on removing harmful moisture from your attic and preventing water damage to your home. The goal is to keep the air temperature inside your attic, as close as possible to the temperature outside of your home.
This article was originally published by Sparrow Exteriors, a home improvement contractor serving Greater Atlanta Georgia.