3 Big Benefits of Good Attic Ventilation

Most Toronto homeowners don’t use their attics in the same ways that we see portrayed in movies and TV. The extreme temperature variations that ou attics experience between summer and winter mean that they are at best storage areas for those items that we don’t think we’ll be using for a long time.

The downside of that role is our attics tend to be forgotten spaces. But just because we don’t use them often doesn’t mean they don’t play an important role in the structure of a house or that they don’t have a significant effect on the comfort and enjoyment we get from our homes.

Making sure your attic is well-ventilated will also make sure you enjoy the following benefits.

• A Healthier Home – Just because you don’t think about it or use it often doesn’t mean that the air from your attic doesn’t get into your home. The dampness of an unventilated attic can foster mold and mildew growth. Mold spores are known irritants that can worsen the symptoms of asthma and can also irritate the lungs.

• A Well-Supported Roof – It’s the only thing between you and the elements, so it pays to have a solid roof over your head. Good attic ventilation prevents the wood rot and moisture damage that can weaken the framework of your attic and roof deck. A weakened support structure can cause your roof to sag and leak – which can cause even more damage almost anywhere in your house.

• Save on Heating and Air Conditioning – Summer’s heat gets amplified in your attic. That heat makes its way into your home and forces your air conditioner to work even harder to keep the house cool. In winter, the moisture that builds up in an unventilated attic can reduce the effectiveness of your insulation. And that makes your furnace work harder to keep your home warm. So not only does ventilating your attic reduce how much energy you use and its cost, it also extends the life of your air conditioner and furnace by reducing how much work they have to do.