Install a solar-powered roof vent
A well-ventilated attic has lots of benefits-the most significant being
a reduction in heat retention that causes roof ice dams to form in
winter and makes
your entire house hotter in the summer.
Proper attic ventilation reduces moisture buildup and the resulting
mildew growth that rots the framing and sheathing. A cooler attic can
even extend
the life of your shingles by keeping the surface of the roof cooler.
: The original small roof vent had a hard time keeping up with attic
heat (above). The high-tech solar powered vent will exhaust
800-cfm-enough
to vent 1,200 square feet of attic space (below).
The question now is whether or not your attic needs more
ventilation.
Do the Math
Start with a simple calculation. Most building codes require
approximately one square foot of venting for every 150 square feet of
attic space, so a 1,500
square foot attic requires about 10 square feet of venting, including
the soffit and roof vents in the calculation.
But don't assume that every 12" x 12" vent gives you a square foot
of ventilation area; the vent framework and insect screening that covers
the hole
reduces the amount of air that passes through-sometimes by as much as
half. Thankfully all attic vents have a Net Free Area (NFA) rating-the
actual amount
of open ventilation area, all things considered. The NFA number is
printed directly on the vent by the manufacturer. Use this number when
making calculations.
Other Checks
Once the cold weather arrives in late fall, grab a flashlight and
inspect your attic, looking for the following: frost on the underside of
the roof or rafters;
water-stained or blackened wood; and heavily rusted nails-all signs that
warm, moist air is getting trapped inside the attic space.
What you'll need:
tools
A Reciprocating saw, cordless drill, tape measure, caulking gun,
roofer's knife, marking chalk, hammer, small crow bar and a broad flat
knife should be
all you need to complete this simple project. Schedule the job for a
warm (but not hot) and dry day to make working on the roof safer.
There are several specific solutions to this problem. Most of the
time it's simply a question of adding some more passive vents; however,
in some cases,
you will end up with a roof that requires more vents than you have room
for. If this is the case, a solar-powered vent, which actually sucks the
air from
inside the attic, may be the answer. The Solar Star, solar-powered vent
can provide up to 1,200 square feet of circulation coverage in one small
unit.
And because it's solar-powered you don't need to worry about wiring. The
built-in motor exchanges air at a rate of up to 800 cubic feet per
minute. For
more information on the Solar Star contact
www.solatube.com
or call (800) 966-SOLA.
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