Improve Attic Ventilation

Effective ventilation in an unfinished attic usually includes intake vents down low along the soffits and exhaust vents up high at the peak or roof ridge.

Improve attic ventilation.

It extends the life of your shingles by keeping the roof cooler in hot weather. Hot air exhaust vents located at the peak of the roof allow hot air to escape. A hot ceiling tells you that the attic is acting like a solar oven. Most building codes require a ratio of 1 150 ventilation space to attic floor space.

If there are asphalt shingles on your roof the attic must be ventilated to comply with the terms of the. How you can improve your attic ventilation the u s. Federal housing administration recommends a minimum of at least one square foot of attic ventilation split evenly between intake and exhaust for every 300 square feet of attic floor space. Obviously more research is needed but here s what we do know.

More is not necessarily. As soffit vents are essentially intake vents which contribute to better attic ventilation by drawing the air from the. Your actual living space is sealed. Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents.

Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves allow cool air to enter the attic. It helps prevent ice dams in winter by keeping your roof colder. Look at your eaves and roof. Rectangular soffit vents are.

Here are four signs of an unventilated or under ventilated attic. If you don t see any attic vents on the roof or in the eaves you need to add some. These improve attic ventilation by creating a draft of air coming into the attic from outside at the lowest possible location on the roof. This 1 300 rule is general and may not apply to all buildings.

This allows for a continuous flow of air through the space. Intake vents are typically found along the soffit of the house which is the horizontal wood surface under the eaves. Ventilation of attic spaces is required by most building codes as well as by roofing material manufacturers and the national roofing contractors association nrca. You can also contact your local municipality to check on building code in your area.

Touch your ceiling on a warm sunny day.