Venting and Energy Efficiency

Proper roof ventilation and a properly insulated attic help keep your home energy efficient. To understand why they both work together, we must first understand why a home may be inefficient when it comes to the amount of energy it uses. Your WE Energies bill can tell you a lot about how efficient your home is. Talk to your neighbors and friends and see if your energy bills are higher than theirs. How do your homes compare? The heating/cooling elements of your home only turn on and run when the temperature of the home is not equal to the display on the thermostat. The more often the furnace or air conditioner has to run, the higher your energy bill becomes. When your home is fully insulated and properly ventilated, the energy bill is at a minimal level.  So, if you are writing big checks to WE Energies, and are tired of doing so, it is time to make improvements to your home.

Temperature Differences: Attic and Roof Contributions

Another tell tale sign that your attic needs more insulation or your roof needs to be better ventilated is the temperature in your home. Is the second story of your home warmer than the first? This is caused by the sun beating down on the roof all day long. Without proper ventilation and insulation, the warmth from the sun enters your home and battles with your heating and cooling system, ultimately winning the battle of the second floor. Your first floor may seem colder than your thermostat reads, or the second floor may seem like a boiler room. The reverse happens in the winter months, when snow covers the roof and makes the attic colder than the rest of the home. Taking measures to properly insulate your attic and vent your roof can significantly reduce the temperature difference between the first and second floors of your home.

Roof Ventilation

When the roof is properly ventilated, it allows air to flow naturally into the attic, and back out again. It also prevents excess heat and moisture to accumulate in the attic, which would lead to the need for a new roof earlier than planned if contained in the attic for extended periods of time.
Having a properly ventilated roof allows your home to breathe. When the excessive temperatures are released from the home instead of into the living areas of your home, it keeps the temperature of the home at a stable level throughout the house. This reduces the need for your heating/cooling system to be used, in turn reducing the energy your home needs to function.

A ventilated roof will also help keep rotting and warping of siding as well as mildew, drywall damage, and peeling paint both inside and out. It also keeps moisture from being trapped in structural wood, insulation, and shingles.

Owens Corning ventilation products allow you to have proper ventilation of your roof in a low-profile design. Vents are added to the ridges of the roof and Hip and Ridge Shingles are then placed on top of the vents. This helps to protect the vents and allows them to do their job all while giving your roof a beautiful, finished look.