With spring comes fresh air, and proper air flow is exactly what you need to prevent ice dams from forming on your roof next winter.
Yes, we’ve already recommended increasing your attic insulation and sealing all the air leaks between your rooms. Now we’re telling you to let air into your attic. Here’s why:
It prevents ice dams from forming
Proper insulation keeps the house warm. But cold air in your attic keeps your roof cold–preventing snow from melting and running down to your eaves in the first place. No hot roof, no ice dam formation. That temperature contrast is crucial.
It keeps temperatures balanced
On the flip side, natural air flow in the summer moves super hot air out, protecting your roof shingles and adhesives during super sunny days. Again, the temperature contrast is crucial to preserve your roofing investment.
It stops moisture buildup
Homes actually need to breathe. That means fresh air comes in and stale air full of indoor pollutants goes out..
Some folks literally “burp” their homes once a day by opening windows and doors on opposite sides of a room for 10 minutes. This air exchange lets moisture escape–along with old food smells, allergens, and certain ionized particles.
Having proper ventilation in your attic means you don’t have to monitor that air exchange. It happens naturally.
“Do I have the right ventilation?”
The most common mistake we see is homeowners covering their attic soffit vents with insulation. You never want to block air flow at the eaves. Instead, use soffit and rafter vents to maintain air flow.
Curious about the price of replacing your entire roof? We dive into that topic for our next blog post. Find out how price is determined and what that money really covers.