Maintaining an environment that is both energy-efficient and comfortable inside your job is often a top priority. Adequate ventilation and insulation will not only help keep your family contented, but may also ensure you aren’t wasting any of your hard-earned dollars on unnecessary energy costs. If your home is lacking when it comes to ventilation and insulation, it might be time to look at the health of your roof.
Proper roof ventilation may help to regulate heat and moisture and improve the energy efficiency and indoor comfort of your home’s space. In this article, we will get into what the importance of proper roof ventilation and insulation means.
If you have questions pertaining to your home’s roof, or you are concerned about the efficiency of your home’s ventilation and insulation due to roofing inadequacies, get in touch with your local roofer. Epic Roofing is a leading roofing company in Calgary with plenty of experience doing roof inspections, repair work, and roof replacement.
The Importance of Roof Ventilation
Allowing your home to “breathe” efficiently goes a long way to protecting its lifespan – and the rest of your home. Here are some of the top reasons why roof ventilation is so important for the overall health of your home.
Preventing Mold and Rot
Sufficient roof ventilation prevents condensation, which can otherwise lead to mold and rot. You might be surprised to learn just how much moisture your home produces. Consider all the laundry that you do, the showers and bathing, cooking, etc. All this works to produce warm, damp air inside the living space of your home. Without a space for this moisture and hot air to go, the condensation will become “trapped” and create an unhealthy environment where mold and mildew can grow. A properly ventilated roof and attic can prevent these issues.
Increases Roof Lifespan
Poor ventilation and insulation in both your roof and attic can dramatically cut the lifespan of your roof. This can be because of rot and mold. Poorly ventilated roofs might result in extremely hot attics, which over time can cause damage to the rafters, wood framing, underlayment, and even more. Having an evenly and adequately ventilated roof allows air to escape properly and extends your roofing system’s lifespan.
Increases Energy Efficiency
Adequate roof ventilation will allow you to reduce your overall home cooling costs. When your roof is structurally sound, heat can naturally escape. So, when the temperatures outside start to rise, the heat inside your home will not be trapped and your air conditioning system can do its job. This helps you to reduce cooling and operating costs and saves you significantly on your energy bills. Another way you may be able to further improve your home’s energy efficiency is by investing in a cool roof, which is designed to reflect solar even more than other, more traditional roofing materials.
The Importance of Roof Insulation
The insulation of a roof is just as important as its ventilation. In short, insulation promotes the longevity of your roof, working to keep heat inside when you need it (in colder temperatures) and outside when the environment is hotter.
Controlling the internal building temperature insulation reduces the need for energy costs, similar to roof ventilation, and mitigates the need for your heating and air conditioning systems work even harder. Insulation installments, over the last few years, have increased dramatically. Insulation has become a part of building codes and is generally required for any new building. Any professional roofer will walk you through your insulation options.
How Do I Ensure Proper Roof Insulation and Ventilation?
Roof insulation and ventilation is critical, but how do you know if your home has proper roof insulation and ventilation? There are a few signs to indicate your roof might be poorly ventilated or insulated, which are as follows:
- You are noticing water leaks slipping through the cracks in attic insulation, causing damage to your interior walls and ceiling.
- Ice damming because of continuous melting and freezing snow.
- Pest problems, such as mice or bugs, burrowing in your attic. A lack of ventilation can cause condensation to build up, making a nice damp, warm environment for pests to get comfortable in.
- Cold drafts might indicate that your attic, doors, and windows are all poorly insulated.
- Moisture spots in your home, which could indicate poor attic insulation. Dampness and mildew may also be a sign of this.
- High energy bills. If your air conditioning and heating systems are in overdrive to compensate for a lack of insulation or ventilation, they’ll rack up your energy bills.
- Frozen pipes can be an indication of an insulation problem. Frozen pipes also run the risk of bursting, which can be an expensive repair job that isn’t covered by insurance.
- Inconsistent temperature or some rooms are hotter than others.
- Cold rooms, walls, and floors can be a sign of improper insulation.
If you notice some or all of these signs, it might be time to do an inspection or call your local roofer to take a look at your attic and roof!