How to Judge Your Home’s Ventilation Needs

Do you know how a builder determines how much ventilation to put in a home? Ideally, that building expert should install 1 square foot of ventilation for every 150 square feet of attic space. That should prevent the appearance of any vent-related problems.
Maybe you are wondering why you should be familiar with figures that get taught to expert builders. You probably do not make your money by building homes. Still, if you are a homeowner, then you should know how to check for the emergence of any vent-related problems.

Do you understand the purpose behind your home’s vents?

A well-vented home should have reasonable energy bills. In the absence of vents, a house can get too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. Vents limit the chances for heat loss. By the same token, they limit the chances for moisture buildup in the attic.
What you should note, if you plan to assess your home’s venting needs
Using a thermometer measure the average room temperature in your home. Then take that same thermometer and place it in the attic. Use it to measure the temperature in that topmost section of your home.
How does the temperature in the attic compare with the average room temperature? Ideally there should not be more than a 2 or 3 degree difference between the two temperatures. If there is, then your home needs to improve it system for ventilating the air.
Your general observations can also serve as a way to judge the extent to which your home’s venting needs have been met. Have you ever noticed that the rafters in your attic have become damp? If you live in a region where the temperatures drop noticeably in the winter, have you ever seen frost on those same rafters?

Have you ever inspected the insulation in your home’s attic?

Has ice on the roof done damage to the system that catches and carries off the rain water? That can happen if your vents fail to create a sufficient amount of negative pressure. That negative pressure is supposed to counter the positive pressure from accumulated ice.
Ideally, vents speed the rate at which any ice on the rooftop will melt and disappear. That is important, due to what can happen if it does not go away in a hurry. In that case, it can work its way under your roof. You do not want to deal with the damage that could result from movement of ice from a spot on the roof to one that is located underneath that same structure. That is why if you are experiencing issues with your roof, it is important to consider consulting a Roofing Contractor in Menlo Park.