5 Common Myths About Attic Ventilation

Attic ventilation may seem like a straightforward topic, but the heat and humidity of the Martin and Palm Beach County area makes ensuring airflow in your attic a little complicated. Getting clear on some common ventilation myths is the first step toward understanding what your attic needs.

• Myth: My existing ventilation is good enough.
  Fact: While it’s easy to assume the builders planned for optimal airflow when they installed the attic vents, this isn’t always true. To cut costs, many attics are designed with ventilation that doesn’t provide sufficient air exchange. For example, the attic might have soffit vents but only two or three louver vents.
• Myth: Every attic should have a power fan.
  Fact: Besides wasting electricity, power attic fans can let in more humidity than they let out. They increase air leakage from rooms by sucking air into the attic through tiny cracks in the attic floor. You’ll lose cool air in summer and heat in winter. These fans are also liable to leak.
• Myth: Installing more attic ventilation never hurts.
  Fact: Excess ventilation can cause humidity problems and increase the risk of roof leaks. The more openings in the attic, the greater the risk of roof damage from our area’s hurricane-force winds. In general, an attic without a vapor barrier needs only one square foot of ventilation for every 150 square feet of attic floor space.
• Myth: Attic vents make your home colder in winter.
  Fact: Your attic should be air sealed and insulated so warmth from your home doesn’t enter. Properly designed ventilation doesn’t draw in air from your rooms, so you won’t lose heat through a cold attic.
• Myth: Existing data can determine the right type of ventilation for your attic.
  Fact: While research has provided valuable data on which ventilation methods tend to work best in each type of attic, ventilation design is still something of an art and requires an experienced professional.

For professional guidance on choosing optimal attic ventilation, contact us at NisAir Air Conditioning and Heating. We’re proud to serve homeowners in the Martin County, Palm Beach County, and Indian River County areas.