4 Myths About Attic Ventilation

As a homeowner, do you understand attic ventilation? As attic ventilation experts in Minneapolis, Lewis Insulation is here to discuss these widely believed myths! If you have any questions about attic ventilation, contact us.

The right attic ventilation can help manage moisture levels, so it’s an especially important topic as it is estimated that 90% of homes have unreasonably high levels! Proper ventilation can protect your belongings, your roof and your insulation.

1. The More Attic Ventilation, The Better

One of the biggest myths we hear is that more attic ventilation is always better. As with most things, more is not always better. Unfortunately, just as is the case with air conditioning units and furnace capacities – more is not always better. While too little attic ventilation is an issue, having too much may be an even bigger risk.

Attic ventilation often comes in the form of roof vents, which create more access to the inside of your home, so having too many can increase the risk of leaks, weak spots for storm damage, or sparks entering your home and causing destruction on the inside.

This leaves the question: how much ventilation is just right? Unlock Goldilocks who needs to test out multiple options to make the right choice, your decision is simpler – just give us a call! Your local professional, like Lewis Insulation, can identify the proper amount of attic ventilation for your home.

2. Roof Vents Equals Attic Ventilation

Unfortunately, simply having roof vents does not mean that you have the right amount of attic ventilation, or even much attic ventilation. Depending on your home, roof and type of roof vents, your roof vents may not do much of anything for your attic ventilation. Each home and roof are unique, so the best way to ensure that you have proper attic ventilation is to hire a professional to install a ventilation system that will work for you.

3. Roof Vents Allow Warm Air to Escape During Winter

Contrary to popular belief, attic vents don’t lower your home’s energy efficiency. Many fall into this belief due to the fact that hot air rises, but if your warm air is rising straight up to your attic and out of roof vents, you have bigger problems than attic ventilation.

Chances are, if warm air is escaping through roof vents during the winter, you have an insulation problem. Unfortunately, to double down, insulation problems often increase moisture – meaning that you likely have a ventilation problem as well.

4. Only Warmer Climates Need Roof Vents

While some may assume roof vents are only there to increase energy efficiency in the summer by releasing excess heat and that therefore colder climates don’t require ventilation, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Increased energy efficiency is a benefit of good attic ventilation, there are other pieces that are better designed for energy efficiency. Shingle color, sun exposure and insulation each contribute more to energy efficiency.

However, attic ventilation is still very necessary, even in cooler climates. In fact, colder climates tend to benefit even more from proper ventilation than warmer ones. Cooler climates experience more condensation in the attic due to the chilly temperatures outside, meaning that the moisture levels are often higher than in warmer climates.

Now that you are armed with a better understanding of attic ventilation for your home in Minneapolis – are you ready to call an expert to make sure your ventilation is up to its job? Call Lewis Insulation today at 763-477-2612 or contact us!