It’s been a long cold winter here in Ypsilanti and as the snow starts to melt and trees and other plants start to turn green again it’s an important time to consider the condition of your home’s roof. One area that many homeowners can have problems with their roofing in Ypsilanti Michigan isn’t actually on the roof itself, instead it’s in the attic and that problem is poor attic ventilation.

Attic ventilation is when air can move in and out of your attic. It helps get rid of hot air in the summer and keep warm air inside during the winter. This is important for Ypsilanti Michigan because it helps to keep homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The bigger reason for attic ventilation is also to help with the humidity in the attic. Too much humidity can lead to all sorts of problems in your home from a failing roof to mold growth.

The Benefits of Proper Attic Ventilation

Proper attic ventilation offers many advantages for homeowners in Ypsilanti Michigan. One of the most important advantages is that it helps to reduce the risk of condensation forming inside the attic space. Condensation can cause damage to wood framing and insulation, as well as lead to the growth of dangerous molds, mildew, fungi and bacteria.

In addition to reducing the risk of condensation, proper attic ventilation can also help to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool your home. Proper attic ventilation will keep hot air from entering the house in summer and cold air from entering in winter, which means your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard to keep your house at a comfortable temperature. This can lead to lower energy bills and a more comfortable home overall.

Attic ventilation is also important for preventing ice dams from forming on the roof of your home in Ypsilanti Michigan. Ice dams are caused when warm air melts snow on the top portion of the roof and it runs down to the edges of the roof where it refreezes. The dam prevents any additional snowmelt from draining off the roof, leading to a buildup of water that can cause costly damage to your home.

How Attic Ventilation Can Be Obstructed

After the holidays most homeowners will store decorations and other items in the attic in boxes. These boxes may contain winter clothes, decorations, etc… The attic vents in your home are likely located at the gable ends of the attic and when boxes are stacked in front of these vents it can block the air flow for the vents. To resolve this simply remove the boxes to allow proper airflow.

Another problem that may obstruct the attic vents is animals which build nests in the vents and blocks them. Birds and rodents can block vents with nests although many modern vents will have screens in place to help prevent this from happening. It’s a good idea to look at your home vents to determine if there are obstructions of any kind.

Signs of Poor Attic Ventilation

Some signs that your attic may not have good ventilation are when the air inside is too hot or too cold, there is condensation on the walls or roof of the attic, ice dams form on your roof, animals build nests in the vents, and boxes are blocking the vents.

Attic ventilation is an important element of roofing in Ypsilanti Michigan. Proper attic ventilation helps to reduce the risk of condensation forming inside the attic, which can lead to mold growth and costly damage to wood framing and insulation. It also helps to reduce energy costs by keeping warm air inside during the winter and hot air out during. If you have concerns about your home’s attic ventilation or roofing be sure to give us a call here at Ypsilanti Roofing Company. We offer free estimates on roofing and ventilation repairs. Call now for more details: (734) 291-0165.

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