Mr. Roof is America's #1 Rated Roofing Company and the Largest Residential Roofing Contractor.

America’s #1 Roofer

(800) 884-9760

The Importance of Ventilation to Roofing

The importance of ventilation to roofing

As a homeowner, you probably know your roof has a ventilation system, but you may not know exactly what it does or the vital role it plays in protecting your home and saving money on utility bills. The way that air flows through your intake and exhaust systems affects the temperature inside your home, your energy costs, and the lifespan of your roof. Roof ventilation was overlooked until about 100 years ago when builders and homeowners began to see that poor ventilation led to problems with condensation in the home.

Consider these three ways that proper ventilation is a benefit to homeowners.

Reducing the interior temperature of the home 

Have you ever noticed how hot your attic or upstairs is in the middle of summer? Compare that temp to the main floor or basement level, and you may be shocked at the difference in temperatures. This is a perfect example of the way proper roof ventilation, or lack thereof, can affect your comfort level in your home. If your roof is ventilated the way it should be, it will allow hot air to escape your attic while cooler air enters. This functions to keep your home at a comfortable temperature in the heat of summer as well as throughout the winter months.

Savings on energy bills

Energy utility bills are among the costliest expenses homeowners across the country face every month. Heating costs skyrocket in the winter, and electricity bills soar when we start to use our air conditioning systems during the summer. Attempting to lower these expenses is a constant battle. Ensuring your roof is properly ventilated is a great way to reduce these costs while still achieving a comfortable temperature in your home. When the heat in your attic can escape as it should, the pressure on your air conditioning system is reduced, and it can operate at a lower cost throughout the hottest time of the year.

Extended lifespan of your roof

Most people don’t realize the effect that roof ventilation has on the durability of the actual roofing materials. Even though we see those icicles hanging off the gutters and sides of the house in the winter, we fail to realize the impact they have on our roof. The backup of ice and snow in rain gutters is known as ice damming.

The reason ice damming occurs is that excess heat in your home works in tandem with the sun’s rays to cause the ice and snow on your roof to melt. As this melted ice runs off the edge of the roof, it refreezes and dams up at the gutters and sides of the roof. This often causes excess water, ice, and snow to get under and behind shingles and roofing materials, damaging the roof itself and your home’s walls. Proper ventilation works to reduce the amount of melted ice and snow that runs off and refreezes. When done right, a roof protects your home from this ice damming effect.

To see increased savings on your energy bills, be comfortable year-round, and protect your home from ice damming, call a roofing contractor today to ensure your home is properly ventilated. Mr. Roof can help you with these issues and any other roofing needs. Reach out to us today at (800) 884-9760.