How to Know If Your Home is Properly Ventilated

How to know if your home is properly ventilated:

What is ventilation and why is it important?

Ventilation refers to the exchange of indoor and outdoor air. Your home ventilation system works by pulling fresh air from the outdoors while removing polluted and contaminated indoor air.  

Ventilation is important for various reasons.  Ventilation helps to remove pollutants like carbon monoxide, chemicals, viruses and odors, improving overall indoor air quality.  It also helps to remove moisture that can cause mold and other household damage.  Proper ventilation will help temperature control

Reasons to vent a roof depend on the climate.  Without ventilation in hot climates, solar heat will get trapped in your attic making your air conditioning unit work harder to keep your living space comfortable which can increase your bills.  In high humidity areas, a quality roof venting system can prevent mold-causing moisture build up in your attic space.  In colder climates, roof vents have the job of keeping the temperature if your roof deck as close to the outside temperate as possible.  If you live in an area where the climate has a mix of hot, cold or humid, then the purpose of the ventilation will change each season.  

Signs of Poor Ventilation in a House

1.     Ice Dams occurring in colder months

Ice damming occurs when snow on your roof melts, traveling towards your gutter line and refreezing at the cold overhang creating a blockage.  As more snow thaws, the water is trapped behind the ice dam and can find its way under the shingles or between metal panels into the building and leading to rot or mold in the attic and/or walls.

Proper ventilation prevents ice dams also preventing related damage by keeping your attic a consistent temperature.

2.     Excessive Heat in the Attic

While a ‘too warm’ attic may feel cozy, it’s one of the warning signs of poor ventilation.  Without proper attic ventilation, hot air gets trapped with no fresh, outside air being pulled in.  The hot air concentrated in your attic stays trapped and can lead to uneven roof temperatures creating ice dams and overworked HVAC, leading to higher energy bills and other costly headaches.  

3.     Visible Moisture on Plywood Leads to Mold

Another warning sign is wet wood in your attic.  When warm, moist air from your home is trapped against your attic ceiling, condensation can occur.  Condensation in your attic space can cause your roof deck to become compromised and lead to sagging.  Because your roof decking is made of wood, it will hold excess moisture causing your roof deck to warp.  Even over a short period of time holding excess moisture, your roof deck can also lose its ability to hold nails and possibly reduce its load-bearing capacity.  Excess moisture also creates the perfect environment for mold growth.  Another way to spot this sign is checking for any discoloration on the bottom of your roof decking.  This is a huge sign of a bigger problem, and if the problem is widespread enough, it’s a sign you need a new roof.

4.     Cracked or Curled Shingles

The last sign of poor attic ventilation is damage it causes to your roof. If your attic is overheated, this signifies that the heat is unable to escape your attic which can accelerate the aging of your roofing materials including causing shingles to lose their ‘waterproofing’ properties.  Poor attic ventilation will lead to a prematurely failing roof, which leads to leaks and eventually a full replacement.  

Conclusion

Addressing poor ventilation in your home is crucial for protecting its structural integrity and ensuring a comfortable living environment. Ice dams, excessive heat in your attic, visible moisture on plywood, and cracked or curled shingles are all signs that your home may need better airflow. Ignoring these issues can lead to costly repairs, reduced energy efficiency, and even health concerns due to mold growth.

If you’ve noticed any of thesewarning signs, it’s important to take action sooner rather than later. Aprofessional inspection can help identify the root cause and provide solutionsto improve your home's ventilation system. Don’t let poor ventilation cause long-term damage—contact North OKGNConstruction today and let us help you protect your investment.

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