Attic Vents During Winter

Your attic vents perform another job than just releasing excess heat during the summer.

Attic vents during winter.

Too many people believe that because heat rises ventilating an attic space during the winter means you re releasing warm air and creating a drag on your heating efficiency. Because heat rises people believe that ventilating your attic during the winter must mean you are letting hot air out. Doesn t warm air release through attic vents in the winter. Air flows in through the soffit vents and out through the roof vents.

If you see dampness or frost you need better roof ventilation and some attic vents. When it comes to installing roof ventilation most people think of the benefits a vent can offer during the hot months of summer drawing hot humid air out of the house to keep the house cooler and to reduce the burden on the air conditioning system but that s just one half of the story. This is a common misconception. Doing so in attempts to keep cold air out disrupts attic ventilation leading to moisture issues.

During cold winter months the attic vent fan is not necessary. If the attic is too warm during the winter the precipitation frozen on your roof will melt drip down to your gutters and then refreeze. They also release excess moisture from your attic during the winter. Vents come in various styles.

It s well worth it to keep those vents open and keep moisture out during the winter. If this is true you ve got bigger problems to worry about than letting warm air escape from your home. Believe it or not the cold temperatures outside combined with the warm air down below mean that there can be an excessive amount of moisture building up in your attic during the cold. If your roof vents have been damaged replace them as well as crushed ridge vents to aid in proper ventilation.

Do not cover your attic vents for the winter. Small attic vents located below the roof peaks provide sufficient ventilation to let the moisture created by heat rising into the. Roof vents remove warm air during the winter. This is important in colder climates with heavy winter precipitation.

Make sure the space between the top of insulation and the roof deck s underside is clear. By covering the turbine in winter this effect is lost and moisture can quickly build up in the attic causing structural damage and increasing the chances of mold and mildew. Grab a flashlight and inspect your attic during the winter. While roof ventilation systems can offer amazing benefits during the hot sultry months of summer.

For the best results place roof ventilation near the roof s peak and soffit vents in the eaves. Open vents also ensure that cold air can enter into the attic during winter.