Watch Out for These Signs of Poor Attic Ventilation
Your roof is much more than just the shingles that form its outer layer. Your roof is much better thought of as a complete system, with multiple components that all have crucial roles to play. Ventilation is a key part of a functional roof, but it’s not thought about nearly as often. If your roof and attic have poor ventilation, however, you’ll certainly start to see some telltale signs.
Poor attic ventilation can lead to moisture issues, rotting, mold, and more—and when not addressed, this issue can compromise your roof enough to fail prematurely. At Skyline Contracting, our goal is to keep our readers educated about their roof and ensure they understand how to keep it healthy. If you notice any of these signs of poor attic ventilation, it’s important to contact a roofer to get the issue sorted out promptly.
Check for Mold and Mildew
While it may seem like your roof should be completely sealed against all air, a small amount of controlled airflow is actually crucial for allowing moisture to evaporate. That means a very typical result of poor attic ventilation is moisture accumulation.
When moisture accumulates in your attic, this promotes the growth of mold and mildew. It can also lead to rot, as the organisms that decompose wood need moisture. If you see visible wet spots or areas of accumulating mold and mildew in your attic, this is one of the clearest signs of poor ventilation.
You may not need to see the mold and mildew, either—an attic that smells damp or has an otherwise foul odor is likely not being ventilated properly.
Watch Your Roof
There are some signs of poor attic ventilation that may be spotted from outside your home, as well. Roofs with poor ventilation will typically have problems that better ventilated roofs can more effectively avoid.
For example, excessive heat buildup can shorten the overall lifespan of your roof and lead to a premature roof replacement. Excessive heat causes shingles to age faster than normal, and a roofer should be able to identify this problem on your roof. Although rare in our area, ice dams can also form as a result of poor temperature regulation.
In addition, you may see signs that moisture is building up within your roofing system. Watch for dark spots on your roof as well as buckling or curling shingles that may warrant a roof repair.
Unwanted Guests
Accumulating moisture can attract many types of pests that may invade your home. Bugs are especially common, as they’ll be drawn to warm climates and accumulated moisture. Poor ventilation can even bring rodents, as well.
If you’ve noticed more pests in your home, your roof and attic ventilation could be to blame.
Soaring Energy Bills
Sudden increases in your energy bills can often point to roof trouble. This is because, if your roof isn’t functioning as it should, your home won’t be able to maintain its temperature properly.
Poor attic ventilation will most commonly cause high energy bills during the summer. On hot days, your air conditioning system will be working overtime to cool your home, while poor ventilation will leave rising hot air with no place to go. If you’ve started to feel more pain in your wallet from your electric bill, it’s a clear sign to have your roof inspected.
Call Skyline If You Notice Signs of Poor Attic Ventilation
Effective ventilation is crucial to the performance and health of your roof. If your roof doesn’t have enough vents, or if your vents simply aren’t sufficient to do the job, you may start experiencing several issues in your home, from unpleasant smells to rot and high energy bills.
At Skyline Contracting, our roofing team is here to diagnose and address roofing issues no matter where they may lie. Our roof inspections go well beyond your roof’s surface, as we ensure no part of your roofing system is overlooked. If we identify ventilation issues, we’ll work with you to put together a plan to address the problem. Contact us today to schedule an inspection!
