About Attic Ventilation Why Ventilate? It's Only an Attic, after all...
Just as houses have to breathe to create a healthy environment for the people living in them, attics also need to "breathe" in order to keep the roofing components "healthy," well-functioning, and structurally sound.
Seasonal Issues Affect the Structural Integrity of Your Home's Roofing ComponentsAnyone who has ever been in the attic during the summer knows that the attic gets hot—very hot. All that heat is first absorbed by the wood sheathing, the framing lumber, and the ceiling joists, and then those roofing components begin to radiate heat. Eventually all that heat will begin to affect the structural integrity of roofing components, and it is for this reason that many manufacturers of roof shingles will consider the shingle warranty voided if an attic is unventilated.During the winter months the major concern with an attic that is not well ventilated is moisture build up. Heated air from the living space below as well as moisture (from cooking, bathing, and washing clothes) leaks into the attic through the ceiling (even with the use of vapor barriers) through light fixtures and fans, access panels, and fold-down attic stairways. Condensation then begins to form on the framing lumber and the inside of the roof decking, leading to mold, mildew, and eventually wood rot. (Take a look at the ends of roofing nails sticking through the roof deck. If the ends of the nails are rusty, you have a moisture problem!) A second problem created by heat and moisture leaking into an un-ventilated attic is the creation of relative warm and cool spots on the roof deck, which may lead to "ice dams" when the roof is snow covered (and the inevitable roof leaks caused by water behind melting ice).An Attic with Proper Ventilation Translates into Energy-Savings
There is an additional two-fold benefit in a well-ventilated attic. First, by keeping your attic cooler during the summer months, you effectively increase the efficiency of your ceiling insulation. As a result, your air-conditioner will operate more efficiently—and not consume as much energy—thus reducing your energy costs. And because your home's entire HVAC system is operating more efficiently, unnecessary and costly wear-and-tear on the equipment is avoided.How Much Attic Ventilation is Enough?
The Federal Housing Administration and most state and local building codes recommend a minimum of one square foot (144 sq in) of ventilation per 300 square feet attic floor space. (Bear in mind that this is a minimum recommendation. A number of factors specific to your home—geographical location, roof style and pitch, orientation to prevailing winds and weather extremes, and so on—as well as local building codes may require even more attic ventilation.)
Why Ventilate? It's Only an Attic, after all...
Just as houses have to breathe to create a healthy environment for the people living in them, attics also need to "breathe" in order to keep the roofing components "healthy," well-functioning, and structurally sound.
Seasonal Issues Affect the Structural Integrity of Your Home's Roofing Components
Anyone who has ever been in the attic during the summer knows that the attic gets hot—very hot. All that heat is first absorbed by the wood sheathing, the framing lumber, and the ceiling joists, and then those roofing components begin to radiate heat. Eventually all that heat will begin to affect the structural integrity of roofing components, and it is for this reason that many manufacturers of roof shingles will consider the shingle warranty voided if an attic is unventilated.
During the winter months the major concern with an attic that is not well ventilated is moisture build up. Heated air from the living space below as well as moisture (from cooking, bathing, and washing clothes) leaks into the attic through the ceiling (even with the use of vapor barriers) through light fixtures and fans, access panels, and fold-down attic stairways. Condensation then begins to form on the framing lumber and the inside of the roof decking, leading to mold, mildew, and eventually wood rot. (Take a look at the ends of roofing nails sticking through the roof deck. If the ends of the nails are rusty, you have a moisture problem!) A second problem created by heat and moisture leaking into an un-ventilated attic is the creation of relative warm and cool spots on the roof deck, which may lead to "ice dams" when the roof is snow covered (and the inevitable roof leaks caused by water behind melting ice).
An Attic with Proper Ventilation Translates into Energy-Savings
There is an additional two-fold benefit in a well-ventilated attic. First, by keeping your attic cooler during the summer months, you effectively increase the efficiency of your ceiling insulation. As a result, your air-conditioner will operate more efficiently—and not consume as much energy—thus reducing your energy costs. And because your home's entire HVAC system is operating more efficiently, unnecessary and costly wear-and-tear on the equipment is avoided.
Dehumidifiers
In any season, excess humidity in your home can make for an uncomfortable indoor environment. Dampness, stickiness, and odors are just a few of the many symptoms associated with air that has too much moisture. Honeywell has a solution with our Whole House Dehumidifier. Unlike portable units, a Whole House Dehumidifier is installed in your home’s central heating and cooling system, and works to eliminate excess moisture in all rooms throughout your home. Honeywell’s DH90 Dehumidifier features an integrated ventilation control that introduces outside fresh air into the home.
Key Features
• Up to 90 pints/day
• Packaged with H8908C Dehumidistat and W8150 ventilation controller
• Uses only 6.2 Amps for energy efficiency
• Built in Ventilation Port
• Provides MERV 11 filtration
• 5 Year Warranty
• Up to 90 pints/day
• Packaged with H8908C Dehumidistat and W8150 ventilation controller
• Uses only 6.2 Amps for energy efficiency
• Built in Ventilation Port
• Provides MERV 11 filtration
• 5 Year Warranty
