b'Attic HeatAttic Ventilation . by Ron Hungarter IfyourhomeisovertwentyH does excessive heat en In order for thep tot the owtercatsu exiyearsold,a 98%probabilitythe attic?bottle, air must e thebottle. nter atowtruettexists th your attic has exces H doesexcessiveheat exitThe same isfor your a ic. In sive heat, an indication ofthe attic?order for excessive heat to exit the unsatisfactoryroof ventilation, allowingThesearetwoveryimportantattic, inlet orair m be make-upust build-up of excessive attic mois questions that must beaskedofabletoentertheattic.Having ture.Whyisexcessiveattic"only"inletvents,orhaving moisture a "only" outlet vents is as good as probxcessiveavingvents"all You lem?E h "noat!must haveboth, inlet and outlet vents i1 -Vand in aproportion, too. I ~ Thebalancedarepictorial \\ following examples of some ways excessive heatenterstheattic spaceand some reasons why that unwanted heat cannot exit that attic space, theultimate enemyofa healthy home. and answered by every . .- ~ ,.constructiondesign, attic moisture leads to more seri- whetheritis fornew ous problems, including delami- construction,foraddi-nation of the roof sheathing, woodtions,orforrenova-rot of structural members, failurelions.W texces-ithouof thelation leading to highersiveheat,thereare nomoistureArchitectsanddesignersainsu re air conditioning and heating bills,condensation problems, no healthconstantlytryingtocreateaesblistering and peeling interior andrelated issues, and no ice dams!thetically pleasing newhomes. exterior paintandthedevelop- Excessive attic heat may u However, aestheticroofdnin- esigns reate by:mp wimentofmoldgrowth,causingtentionally be c dare not always co atibleth a serioushealthproblems,dis- 1. The architectvariety of climates. In fact, comguised as asthma, allergies, colds2.general con plex roof linescreatesome d Thetractorisand sinus conditions. In snow- 3. The heating,n ting and airtinctandintrinsicproblecli ve tila ms mates,attic heatconditioningtorregarding dissipationexcessive excessivecausescontrac of heeat.constto ice damming, leading to seri- 4. T electricianattic h This newlyructed ousinteriorwaterleakageand5.rooferproperty h exc attic heat Theasessive subsequent damage often6. And, yes, thetoo!andseveralclimate-related blamedhomeowner, onroofer, but who is seldomAir flowreducesheatandisdesign problems,in ingthe thecludtoblame.Thegoodnews"Aeasily explained,using a catsupchanneling of snow and ice from . stitch in time saves nine bottle as an example. Whenyoutwo portionsof thelarge, main !" open abottle of catsup androof, down and onto the lower ro"\' new turn it over, and thetsup doesContinued on page , can come out, do you know why? ot 8'