Do you know if your attic ventilation is good or not? Proper ventilation is very important for the lifespan of your roof and will help reduce your utility bills. All-in-all, attic ventilation offers a long-term return on investment as well as potential preventative health benefits. Here are some things to check for to see if your attic is ventilated properly or not.
Visible Moisture -
If you see any wet wood, wall, or flooring that's never a good sign. This may be from the moisture in the air on the hot summer days getting trapped in the attic causing condensation or leaking from the roof on a rainy day. Look for beaded water, condensation on hard surfaces, water stains, rusted nails, or rust stains around nail heads. It's important to address visible moisture quickly because trapped, warm, and wet air is a breeding ground for mould and mildew.
Extremely Hot in the Attic = poor ventilation -
A hot attic is a key warning sign of poor ventilation. With poor ventilation, all the hot air rises to the highest point of the house which is the attic and gets trapped in there. This will cause higher bills for you as your AC unit will be working twice as hard as it should be and vice versa in winter.
Mould and Mildew -
If you don't treat the mould and mildew that grows in your attic you can negatively impact you and your family's respiratory health. Discoloured patches, including white, orange, pink, green-black, grey, or black colours, can be indicators of mould. An active leak or damp area is a possible indicator that mould or mildew is also present. A musty or unpleasant damp smell is another sign.
Ice Dams -
If you see icicles around your roof you may think it looks beautiful but this can be a sign of ice dams caused by poor attic ventilation. The excess warm air that results from poor ventilation gets trapped within the steeper parts of your roof. This can then melt the snow on the roof exterior above it. The melted snow then drips down and refreezes in lower, cooler areas. This freeze-thaw cycle can create built-up ice dams around the base of your roof that just get larger over time. When ice dams are not removed, the built-up ice and water can infiltrate your roofing system, leading to shingle damage, roof leaks, and even structural home damage.
Did you know you can apply for a Goverment Grant to help your home be more energy efficient?! Read our blog "DID YOU KNOW GOING GREEN CAN SAVE YOU MONEY?" for more information about these grants and how to apply!
Give Homeguard Roofing a call at 604-308-1698 to hear about how we can help you!