An inadequately ventilated roof can cause discomfort and significant damage to your home. No homeowner should ever find themselves in such situations. But how do you detect the signs of poor attic ventilation?
In this article, we will discuss the signs to look out for to detect poor roof ventilation and how to correct it. Just make sure you keep reading and do not skip a line.
Signs of Poor Attic Ventilation
Hot Rooms on the Upper Floors
The rooms upstairs are uncomfortable and hot during the summer when the attic ventilation is poor. This is probably the first sign you’ll notice.
When your attic is not adequately ventilated, there is no fresh air to dispel the stale, hot air. The hot air remains trapped and causes the rooms upstairs to be very hot, impacting your energy consumption. You will be forced to leave your ACs on for extended periods and more frequently. This, in turn, increases your utility bills.
Decking Discoloration and Sagging Roof
Roof decking is made of wood, and when your roof does not have sufficient ventilation, it leads to condensation. The roof decking absorbs the water from condensation. Over time, the decking begins to look wavy as it loses its capacity to hold nails or anything else. This leads to the roof sagging, compromising the decking.
Aside from the sagging, poor ventilation also causes discoloration on your decking. When you spot discoloration beneath your roof decking, it is a sign that your roof is experiencing leaks. It’s either that or it needs better ventilation.
Ice Damming in Winter Months
When ice dams form regularly on your roof in winter, you might need to fix your attic ventilation. Ice dams form when melting snow flows down a roof’s surface and freezes back as it closes up on the roof’s edge, forming an ice obstacle.
In a region with freezing temperatures, hot air from the poorly ventilated attic melts ice on the roof, which refreezes at the gutter line. When the temperature begins to increase, the ice melts and begins to drip gradually into your home until it attains a temperature that is high enough to melt it out totally.
Properly ventilating your attic will ensure your roof maintains a stable temperature to avoid the cycle and ice dams.
Rusting of Metal and Formation of Mold in the Attic
Excess water from condensation due to poor ventilation causes mildew and mold formation in your attic. An attic with poor ventilation is usually very humid. And mildew and mold thrive in an environment with a high level of humidity.
They usually grow on wood surfaces. So, when looking for signs of mold or mildew growth, inspect the roofing deck’s bottom, attic insulation, and other surfaces made of wood. Another way to detect mold growth in your attic is if you perceive a musty smell in the rooms upstairs or when your AC is on and working.
In addition to mold and mildew growth, excess moisture from condensation also causes corrosion to metals like fasteners, nails, and HVAC ducts.
Termite/Pest Infestation
A poorly ventilated room attracts termites or pests and creates a suitable environment for them. So, if termites or any pest invades your attic, it is a sign of excessive moisture in the atmosphere.
Issues with your vents or cracks in the walls make your attic more susceptible to pest attack or infestation.
Curling or Cracked Asphalt Shingles
We could call this the final pointer to look out for, the final stage of damage due to poor attic ventilation. This premature failure of your roof may cause leaks and demand a complete roof replacement.
During the summer, your roof absorbs a lot of heat. So much so that it weakens the bonding force of the adhesives used on the decking. This action also makes the wood weaker, causing your asphalt shingles to be fragile and eventually curl or crack.
In some cases, the weakened bond of the adhesive used on the decking and damage to nails will cause parts of your shingles to fall off. If you ever observe this level of damage to your roof, the only practical solution is to replace your shingles.
4 Steps to Improve Your Roof Ventilation
If you detect one or more of the six signs of poor attic ventilation we discussed above, you should do the following:
- Hire a roofing contractor for inspection: The first step to take is to hire a reputable roofing contractor in your area to thoroughly inspect your roof and ensure that it has not undergone any major damage from inadequate ventilation. They will know what solution to provide in case of significant harm.
- Assess insulation: Insulating your roof can help boost your home’s energy efficiency and maintain a consistent temperature inside your home. While insulation is beneficial, it is vital to check your roof insulation to ensure it isn’t obstructing any of your roof vents.
- Install exhaust vents: Install exhaust vents that best suit your need or situation, as they let hot or stale air out of your home. There are a couple of options to choose from, including box, wind turbine, and ridge vents. However, the ridge vent is the most prevalent one.
- Install intake vents: Intake vents do the reverse of what exhaust vents do. They draw in fresh air from your home’s exterior and circulate it within your home. Like exhaust vents, there are different intake vents to choose from, including soffit vents. Combining an intake vent with an exhaust vent will give you the best roof ventilation you could ever ask for.
Conclusion
If your attic or roof is not as ventilated as it should be, you will notice at least one of the six signs we discussed.
Seeing the signs early will save you a lot of stress and money. If you do not detect these signs early enough, things will escalate. You will eventually find yourself spending a lot of money trying to fix the damage you could have avoided if you had spotted the signs early and acted fast.
Therefore, don’t hesitate to contact a roofing specialist to assess the state of your roof as soon as you spot it. And changing your ventilation system might just be your solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best type of attic ventilation?
We recommend ridge vents and soffit vents for exhaust and intake ventilation, respectively. Box vents are here to the rescue in homes where you can’t maximize ridge vents, as they are the next best exhaust vent option. If you can’t install soffit vents in your home, fascia vents will be a good replacement.
Can an attic have too much ventilation?
It is possible to have too much exhaust ventilation. However, you can’t have too much intake ventilation. If there’s ever a case of having ventilation beyond the roof’s requirement, you have nothing to worry about because any excess ventilation the intake vents draw in will convert to “exhaust.”
What are the signs of poor attic ventilation?
Mold and mildew growth, fluctuations in your home’s internal temperatures, ice damming, and overall damage are signs of poor ventilation in your attic.
