Four Ways To Tell If Your Attic Is Properly Ventilated

In typical form and fashion, the ‘Dog Days of Summer’ are making their appearance in the South. Keeping you and your family feeling cool is of utmost importance. As a homeowner, HVAC is probably at the forefront of your thinking now-a-days. Believe it or not, your attic contributes a great deal to the temperature of the rest of your home. Here are a few ways to ensure your attic is properly ventilated and to keep your family feeling comfortable.

Here are four ways to tell if your attic is properly ventilated:

Monitor Your Utilities

This can be the first “tell-tale” sign that helps you, the homeowner, know if there are any ventilation issues in your attic. Normally they should make a slight climb in the Summer and Winter. If the utilities have summited, your HVAC system is probably working on overdrive. When the sun is constantly beaming on your home, hot air gets trapped in the attic. Proper attic ventilation will help circulate the hot air out of your home therefore making the cooling system work at a more efficient pace.

Read Your Roof

If you have noticed warping or leaking in your roof could indicate a ventilation problem. When moisture gets trapped in your attic, it can start compromising the integrity of your roof. Ice dams can form in the winter, and can cause mold and mildew in the summer. When your roof is equipped with an adequate amount of vents, the moisture should be able to escape with ease.

Critters aren’t Welcome

Have you noticed an increase in the amount of pests in and around your home? When moisture is in your attic, it creates a welcoming atmosphere for the last thing you want in your home-pests and even rodents. These creatures are drawn to warm, damp environments which help their living conditions thrive.

Positioning and Distance

Ventilation systems should be done in proper form and manner. There ought to be vents on your roof’s peaks and soffit vents. The size of these vents should approximately be 1 sq ft per every 150 square feet. Though this could change per home, this is the standard distance for a 1,200 square foot home.

You may have ventilation through your attic but the question is, is it enough? Let our professionals at Hewatt Roofing come and assess your roof. We will inspect and ensure that your home has a proper ventilation system and whether or not there could be some improvements. Making such upgrades to your home could be beneficial to your at home comfort and to your wallet. Companies such as Georgia Power give rebates and incentives for energy and home improvements. Give us a call today for more information and remember “Hewatt Can Do It!”