Nov

Is My Home Making Me Sick? 5 Tips for Proper Attic Ventilation

Unless your attic is a functional space, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about it. But it’s important to remember your attic has a very important purpose.

It affects the quality of the air you breathe. If you’re wondering, “Is my home making me sick?” it could be due to poor attic ventilation.

The right venting helps keep hot air from becoming trapped in your attic. A few simple improvements can keep fresh air circulating through your attic and your home.

Here are 5 tips for the best attic ventilation.

1. Remove Boxes and Clutter From the Attic

In most homes, the attic serves as a storage area. It may be home to your holiday decorations and other items you seldom use.

Storing seasonal and rarely used items on the ground floor may be a better option. It will be easier to reach those items when you need them.

Getting rid of boxes and clutter gives you more space in the attic for better ventilation.

2. Replace Your Insulation

Over the years, insulation degrades due to moisture and heat. Adding new insulation protects your home from water, hot temperatures, and other environmental issues.

Replacing your old insulation can have an immediate effect on your heating and cooling bills. New insulation is cleaner and helps keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

3. Install Soffit Vents

Having the right soffit vents in your attic can make a huge difference in ventilation. Around 50% of the vent space in your attic should be soffit vents.

You want to place these vents on both sides of your home and space them evenly along the soffits. These vents provide an opening that allows outside air into the attic from below.

Talk with a ventilation expert to see what types of soffit vents are best for your home.

4. Add Roof Vents

Roof vents are usually set at the peak of a roof. This is the area where air rises in the attic.

Roof vents allow warm, moist air to escape, preventing condensation and excess heat from building up. A good rule of thumb is one square foot of roof venting per 150 square feet of attic space.

You should check roof vents and clear away debris on a regular basis.

5. Use Fans for Better Airflow

Attic ventilation solutions are designed to improve ventilation as hot air rises within the structure. If you live in a very hot or humid climate, you may benefit from installing fans in your attic space.

Fans offer supplementary ventilation that helps draw air out of the attic and save you money. There are electric and solar options. You can activate some models with a thermostat that triggers the fan when the attic heats up.