Attic Ventilation Benefits: Turn Down The Heat!

Article by: Gil Strachan

With regard to summer , Ideas About The Code On Deck Railings cooling, I was prompted to peck out a few words on attic ventilation. In addition to keeping us warm, and preventing condensation & mildew in the winter, , Rainbow Vacuum Water Washes Your Air, Does A Rainbow Vacuum Really Really Do This? an adequately insulated and ventilated attic space will reduce the summer , Fireplace Advice as You Begin Your Search heat load in living spaces. A well ventilated attic will function much like a big shade tree! , Sauna Stoves - Wood Burning, Gas or Electric? The general rule of thumb is "one square foot of unobstructed ventilation area for every 300 square feet of ceiling space; no less that 50% of the total inbound through the soffits or gable vents, and no more than 50% outbound via roof , Fireplace Advice as You Begin Your Search or ridge vents. The bird , Rainbow Vacuum Water Washes Your Air, Does A Rainbow Vacuum Really Really Do This? and bug screens can diminish the effectiveness of the vents by as much as 50%, so double this amount.

For example, a 1500 sq. ft house , Choosing The Right Humidor Humidifier requires a minimum of 5 sq. ft of unobstructed ventilation area (min. 10 sq. ft. of screened vent area). This would likely be accomplished with 5 (1 sq ft) roof , Calculate the Right-Sized Air Conditioner For Your Needs vents (or a larger number of smaller vents) and in most new homes, , Tape and Finish Drywall Like A Pro a continuous vented soffit covering. In older homes , Calculate the Right-Sized Air Conditioner For Your Needs with wooden , Needlepoint - The Funniest Way to Stitch soffit coverings incorporating individual soffit vents, subsequent covering with vented aluminum will drastically impede air , Sewing Machine Purchasing flow through the original openings. The wood , Refrigerator - Tips On Buying soffit covering should be removed prior to installation of the aluminum soffit covering. If aluminum has already been applied over plywood, temporarily remove this covering to introduce more openings into the wooden , Tips For Buying A Water Heater soffits.

To determine whether or not your attic is adequately ventilated, first survey the number of roof , Sewing Machine Purchasing vents. Then lift the access hatch inside , Sauna Stoves - Wood Burning, Gas or Electric? the house , Alternatives to Fiberglass Insulation (usually found in a closet or hallway ceiling). If the attic temperature , Needlepoint - The Funniest Way to Stitch is extremely high, especially on a cooler day, this means heat-loaded air , Baking Soda (Bicarbonate of Soda) The Magic Do-Everything Stuff is not being sufficiently vented. Also, you may notice a rush of air , Decorate Your Home with Custom Prints and Posters entering up through the access hatch. This means you might have enough roof , Replacement Vinyl Exterior Window vents, but not enough soffit (or gable) vents. The relative heights of roof , Know what you need to buy home security system versus gable vents will also be a determining factor. The higher the roof , Fireplace Advice as You Begin Your Search vents are above the gable vents, the more effectively the attic will ventilate.

A minimum of R20 (approx. 8") of insulation over the upper floor , DIY Plumbing Repair - You Have Homeowners Insurance, Use It ceilings is required to effectively isolate the attic from the living spaces, and continuous vapour barriers behind walls , Top 5 Best Motor Home Rentals and ceilings will stop infiltration of hot , Tape and Finish Drywall Like A Pro outside air, , Wine Racks - A Guide To Home Wine Storage and exfiltration of cooler (hopefully) inside air. , Home Water Filtration for Shower and Drinking Purpose Check that your soffit vents are not obstructed by insulation materials.

Without air , Sauna Stoves - Wood Burning, Gas or Electric? conditioning, it helps to open all the windows , Ceiling Fans Leading the Future overnight, and then shut down the house , Refrigerator - Tips On Buying and close the window , Tape and Finish Drywall Like A Pro coverings all day, just like grandmother did it! Aluminum foil, or commercially available tinting, can also help when applied to south and west-facing windows. , Fun Lighting Projects

Copyright Gil Strachan - All rights reserved.

Gil Strachan is a professional home , Helpful Household Hints: How to Make a Relaxing Bath and More inspector, representing Electrospec Home , Transform Your for Very Little or No Money at All - 50 Great Money Saving Options Inspection Services in east-central Ontario, Canada since 1994. Visit http://www.allaroundthehouse.com to learn more about home , How To Install Laminate Floors inspections.

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