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This is an example of good ventilation. You need this. Photo courtesy of Owens Corning

Some homeowners think roofs just come with those funny accouterments on top, giving little thought to the purpose or function of roof vents. The result is an estimated 9 out of 10 Minnesota houses have poor ventilation.

Proper roof ventilation is vital to the life of your roof, and it prevents serious structural damage to the rest of your Eden Prairie home. Every time you do laundry, wash dishes, or take a shower, the moisture level of your home increases. If that moisture gets trapped, you could be looking at some serious problems.

Poor roof ventilation can cause:

• mold, which can be dangerous and destructive.
• excessive moisture can cause roof decking to sag and warp, compromising its structural integrity. Do you want a saggy roof trying to hold up Minnesota snows?
• trapped moisture that eats away at shingle underlayments and at the shingles themselves, causing premature granule loss, which then reduces the life of your roof.
• frost to form on the inside of a poorly ventilated attic, which causes nails to rust and break. When the frost melts, it can cause severe damage to your ceilings, or drip onto your insulation, thereby reducing its effectiveness.
• ice dams to form at the edge of the roof where trapped warm air melts snow, which then freezes as it cools. Once dammed, water and ice can creep back up under the shingles and underlayment, resulting in roof leaks.
• excessive energy bills, especially in the summer when overheated air will seep into the rest of the house and cause your HVAC and appliances to work harder.

What is Good Ventilation

Good ventilation occurs when a steady, high-volume airflow is established to maintain proper temperature and remove moisture. Air intake typically occurs from the soffits, which are located under the eaves. Exhaust vents are usually located near the roof ridge in the form of box vents, turbines and powered attic fans or on the roof ridge by way of a ridge vent. By having a proper system, cool air is able to move from outside the house through the attic and out the vents, taking the heat and moisture with it.

How to Fix It

Unfortunately, if you suspect your house is part of the 90% of poorly ventilated homes, fixing the problem is not a DIY project you want to take on. The easiest and best way is to contact a professional, who can measure the ventilation of the attic and then install the intake and outtake vents to keep your home safe and sound.