Attic Ventilation

Ventilation is nothing but the movement of air inside and outside the house through vents. It serves the purpose of relieving the exhausted air from the room and bringing in the fresh cool air from outside. Attic ventilation works on the same lines as mentioned above. If the room is heated up, then hot air rises up and goes towards the roof of the room. A ventilator above the attic causes outer cool air to circulate in and the inner hot air to be evacuated. Attic ventilation has many advantages. It not only provides fresh air to the inmates for breathing in, but also ensures the safety of the members when there is fire. If a house or a closed area is covered with the blanket of fire then it ensures that the inmates do not die of suffocation.

For many years now, attics were built to store clothes, luggage and some household items. It was not a very important part of the house and not many had attic ventilation. But people are now gradually waking up to the importance of attic ventilation and it is finally being given its due importance in the construction of a house. Due to attic ventilation, it is comfortable to live in houses during summers. During the winters the moisture content inside the house is reduced making more a pleasant stay. If attic ventilation is not provided then the moist air in winter condenses on the higher parts of house and makes staying uncomfortable in the winter.

Attic ventilation is often termed as the traditional method for controlling moisture and temperature in the house. Some of the best attic ventilation practises are: distribution of soft vents in an even fashion around the attic which include the corners as well. Fifty percent of the vent area is to be placed in soffits. These soffit vents are very significant in operation as they act as both inlets and outlets. Also these vents are placed downwards which does not allow rain or snow to get into the attic. Installation of a ridge vent, which has good aerodynamics and low air circulation/flow resistance has to be done as well. The net free area is an indication of resistance and is stamped on the vents. The logic is that if a higher number is stamped on the vents then it indicates less resistance and enhanced air flow and vice versa.

Installation of air chutes so as to protect soffits from blockage caused due to insulation is also important. These air chutes help in controlling the air flow. Before standardising, one needs to assess whether air will blow through the vent or over it. Attic ventilation is a recent development and there is still a lot of research is still going to establish more facts about attic ventilation and its functionalities are studied carefully. The importance of it cannot be undermined in the construction of a house.