Roofing on Portage, IN, homes keeps the onslaught of winter snows and baking summer heat away.
As such, it’s evident to homeowners why trusses, decking boards, and shingles are necessary. But many do not know the function of roof ventilation.
Does your home need roof ventilation? As any experienced roofing company in Portage, IN, can tell you, roof vents are vital in aiding your roof’s function and extending its lifespan.
Roof Vents Facilitate Air Circulation
Roofing in Portage, IN, homes needs vents to expel warm, moist air and draw in cooler, drier air.
If there’s no ventilation in place (or insufficient ventilation), this through-flow of air doesn’t occur, resulting in a stuffy interior environment, higher electric bills, and other issues.
The Two Types of Roof Vents
Roofers in Portage, IN, recommend installing vents that let warm air out (exhaust ventilation) and vents that draw cool air in (intake ventilation).
Both these vent types come in an array of options, with exhaust vents ranging from discreet ridge vents to flamboyant whirlybirds.
Intake vents are generally located along the soffit; fascia vents and drip edge vents are less effective. Cupola vents look lovely but are more decorative than functional.
The Benefits of Air Circulation
Exhaust vents let warm, moist air out, and the resulting drop in pressure sucks cooler air in. The resultant through-flow yields the following benefits.
1. Moderation of Attic Temperature
Warm air sitting in your attic makes it uncomfortably hot in summer. Whether you need to access the space for maintenance or use it as a storage area, keeping your attic cooler in the summer is beneficial.
Roofing contractors in Portage, IN, also recommend ventilation to help maintain attic temperatures close to ambient during winter.
2. More Comfortable Living Spaces
An attic that’s too hot can make your living quarters below uncomfortably warm in summer and unpleasantly cold in winter.
Unless your insulation is insufficient or you have too much ventilation, roof vents won’t suck heat out of your home in winter.
3. Lower Power Bills
Ventilation moderates temperatures in your attic, thereby regulating temperatures in your home because it isn’t acting as a heat source or heat sink.
As a result, your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard, saving you money on power bills.
4. Less Moisture Build-up
Because warm air can hold more water vapor, a build-up of warm air under the roof results in moisture problems in your house.
The result is a proliferation of issues that residential roofing contractors in Portage, IN, often see in poorly-ventilated homes, including wood rot, water damage, and mold growth.
5. Longer Shingle Lifespan
Even if roofers in Portage, IN, have installed excellent shingles, if the air below the shingles constantly remains warm and moist, the shingles will deteriorate and crack.
6. Prevention of Ice Dams
Warm air in the attic in winter melts snow, which slides down to the cooler gutters and refreezes. This ice can break gutters and injure people by falling on them, and its meltwater can back into your walls.
Roof Ventilation: Final Thoughts
Well-installed, properly-maintained roof vents are critical because they help regulate your home’s temperature and keep the indoor environment dry.
Ask your local roofing company in Portage, IN, to inspect your attic to ensure it’s properly ventilated.
