How Does Attic Ventilation Work

Hot air exhaust vents located at the peak of the roof allow hot air to escape.

How does attic ventilation work.

The purpose of attic ventilation is so that heat can leave the attic when the air conditioner turns on and is trying to circulate cold air around the house. An attic fan works by drawing in cool air to the attic space that pushes out the hot air through vents. At first it may seem odd to add insulation for warmth and then purposely allow cold air to. Attic fans exhaust hot air from your attic to the outside.

It promotes a cool dry attic. The attic fans are fitted with thermostats that will switch on and off the fan depending on the homeowner s preference. In such doing the attic fan will reduce the temperature in the attic space that in turn cools down the whole house. When it is cold outside the ventilation system will work by maintaining the cold temperature so that ice will not melt on the roof and create ice dams.

Most effective ventilation uses a ridge and soffit continuous ventilation system but even these designs can vary from roof to roof. It allows hot air to escape in the summer and can also help reduce the chances of ice damage in the winter by allowing a natural flow of outdoor air to ventilate the attic. Are ridge vents better. Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents.

Static roof line vents are effective for ventilation but generally aren t recommended due to issues with leaks. Fresh air is pulled in from your soffits and or roof vent creating a draft through your attic. While it may seem silly to meticulously cover a home with insulation only to leave a place for air to escape the attic vent serves a few important purposes. Ideally this will lower the high temperatures that have built up in your attic.

This air is then exhausted through the fan to the outside. An attic ventilator is essentially a port where air can escape to the outdoors. About attic ventilation natural attic ventilation. Proper attic ventilation offers all these benefits.

It helps prevent moisture from becoming trapped in insulation structural wood shingles and roof deck it. It helps minimize the impact of ice damming. Attic fans are intended to cool hot attics by drawing in cooler outside air from attic vents. Soffit vents may leave air trapped at the top of your attic.

This prevents hot air from seeping into your home and driving up the temperature in the living space which reduces the load on your air conditioner. It allows outside air to flow naturally upward and out of attic.