How Attic Ventilation Works with Insulation
Most people think having an insulated attic is all it takes to keep your home insulated. However, is not true. So, what is it that your attic needs to create better conditions for your home’s insulation and to keep the insulation functioning properly? The answer is simple, ventilation. Keep reading to learn why your attic needs proper ventilation, and how it can save you money!
Why Do I Need Insulation and Ventilation?
There are a few reasons why your attic needs proper ventilation in order to make your insulation function how it is supposed to.
In the summer, without proper ventilation in your attic, your roof will continue to heat up throughout the day. Eventually, it will heat up so much that your insulation won’t be able to handle it and will render useless. The heat that the insulation doesn’t catch will lower down into your home. The main purpose of attic and roof ventilation is to expel solar-heated hot air from the attic to lessen your home’s cooling load.
To prevent this, follow the air sealing and insulation strategies in this guide and make sure the attic is well-ventilated using passive vents and natural airflow.
Hot air rises. If you live in an area where it gets cold in the winter season, the warm air will get trapped inside of the attic between the insulation and the roof of your home. Not only will you be missing out on the warmth for yourself, that warm and moist environment can cause mold and mildew to start growing within your home and will make your insulation less effective. If you live in an area where snow is common, eventually, the heat that rises to your roof will cause the snow to melt. The melted snow will trickle down your roof and freeze into the shingles and gutters of your home and will eventually cause cracks and damage.
How Else Can This Affect Your Home?
If your home has proper insulation, you will save on your home’s energy cost. However, as previously explained, without the proper ventilation, your insulation renders useless. This means that with the ventilation, you are actually paying a lot more for energy cost than you actually need to be. ff your attic has blocked soffit vents and is not well-sealed from the rest of the house, attic fans will suck cool conditioned air up out of the house and into the attic. This will use more energy and make your air conditioner work harder, which will increase your summer utility bill.
What to do if You Need Insulation or Ventilation in your Home
If you have an older home, you most likely have an attic with insulation but no ventilation. Or, your home may not be properly ventilated. This is definitely something that can bring your energy costs down while also keeping your home nice and comfortable. If you want to find out more information about home insulation and to get an assessment to ensure your home is properly ventilated, give us a call at (210) 848-5658 or learn more on our site at Geo-Insulation!
