When your home or building was first constructed, your builder or architect was the person who decided whether or not to install a ventilator on your roof or attic. Now you can make your own choice. The question is should you? If your home or building is located in a cold climate, roof ventilation will help you keep your roof’s temperature cold, which in turn will help prevent ice dams from forming. Ice dams forms when a warm roof begins to melt the snow that has accumulated on a roof and then freezes as the outside air temperature drops to below freezing. The new ice often forms in the building’s gutters and other drains: acting like a dam, it blocks the water formed by melting snow from draining though the gutters into drywells or other water control systems. When enough water pools on your roof, whether from rain or additional melted snow, it will flow over your gutters and cascade onto promenades, sidewalks and adjacent parking areas. Once on the ground, the cold air and surface temperature will turn the water into ice, which presents a serious risk of personal injury or damage to property.
In warmer climates mold growth can be a concern. Some molds have been associated with respiratory problems while others have been associated with immune system disorders. One of the major causes of mold growth is stagnant, moist air that can build up in attics.
One way to eliminate the cause of mold growth is to keep air from becoming stagnant and minimizing moisture buildup. In many instances, installing a Turbine ventilator on the rooftop and Soffit vents under the eaves will allow outside air to be brought into the attic while the turbine vent facilitates the removal of hot, moist air.
It’s easy to see why installing ventilators on your roof is not just hot air, it’s a good idea. In both cold environment and hot ones, ventilating your attic will save you money because it will restore balance in your building, reduce your energy consumption and minimize mold and mildew growth at the same time. It’s a winner.