Attic Vents During Winter

Roof vents remove warm air during the winter.

Attic vents during winter. You should absolutely leave your roof vents open during the winter do not cover them. Snow melts and the water refreezes on the cold eaves creating ice dams. Too many people believe that because heat rises ventilating an attic space during the winter means you re releasing warm air and creating a drag on your heating efficiency. Most people know that attics help your house release excess heat during summer months.

It only seems logical that closing those same vents during the winter would help keep the warm air inside. Sealed attics trap excessive heat and moisture which can lead to reduced shingle life. A drafty attic is a very good thing. It bars the heat of your sun drenched roof from the rest of your home.

Warm air that escapes living space also carries moisture that will condense on rafters or roof sheathing. Shutting the vents in your attic during the winter isn t going to help you hang on to too much heat where you actually want it in the living areas of your home. In that way it keeps your house cooler and your heating bills down. They can be painted and a number.

During the winter your home s roof vents allow moisture to leave the attic space preventing the growth of mold and mildew that can occur even during this typically dry period. For every two percent moisture you lose a third of the r value. Open vents also ensure that cold air can enter into the attic during winter. Warm air that escapes rooms below gets trapped in the attic.

The vents allow the super heated air to flow out. So those vents actually help keep that insulation dry in the winter time. And the extra heat is not just a summer concern come winter hot attic air can melt snow on the roof during. Open vents allow the moisture to leave the attic and travel outside.

Gable vents are installed at the roof peak s highest point in the gable. During the winter roof ventilation works to keep temperatures even. If the moisture becomes trapped there it can cause mold problems to develop. Then cooler air from outside sneaks in to replace it.

The attic acts as an intermediate layer. During cold winter months the attic vent fan is not necessary. Small attic vents located below the roof peaks provide sufficient ventilation to let the moisture created by heat rising into the. Instead it will merely cause a build up of moisture and heat that can cause other more troubling conditions in your home come spring.

There are three main types of intake vents for attic ventilation in winter. If this is true you ve got bigger problems to worry about than letting warm air escape from your home. Thick ridges of ice on your eaves in winter are a sign of poor attic ventilation.