How To:
Lower Cooling Costs While Protecting Your Attic And Roof

Many homeowners are unaware of all the benefits of adding attic ventilation to their homes. First, in the summer, a well-ventilated attic removes a heat build-up that can radiate to the rooms below the attic, making your home uncomfortable and harder to cool. Removing this attic heat can reduce the strain on air conditioners, and that can save you money.
Second, attic ventilation helps protect your attic from damage caused by heat and moisture. Too much heat in the attic can cause shingles to deteriorate prematurely. Excess moisture can cause mold, mildew, and wood rot in the attic.
If you go into your attic and see signs of mold and mildew such as dark spots on the rafters or rust on the nail heads, you could benefit from adding ventilation to your attic. And, if you store things in your attic, you want to make sure attic moisture does not damage your belongings.
Many homes, although vented, are not vented well enough to eliminate potential damage caused by excess heat and moisture. If your attic seems too hot or if there are signs of moisture in the attic, you will benefit from adding ventilation.
An easy way to add more ventilation is by installing a powered attic ventilator. A power attic ventilator has a thermostat so that the fan turns on automatically when your attic requires ventilation.
To get the most from your power attic ventilator, here are three tips to remember when installing a powered attic ventilator:

Tip #1 Provide Plenty of Intake Air.
A powered attic ventilator works best when it has plenty of intake air to circulate in the attic. Intake air is provided by vents placed in your eave or soffit areas. They provide a source of fresh air for your power attic ventilator to draw from.

Tip #2 Install A Power Attic Ventilator With Enough Power To Do The Job.
Power attic ventilators are rated by the cubic volume of air moved per minute (CFM). This number represents the actual amount of air moved by the power attic ventilator. The higher the number, the more ventilation the powered attic ventilator provides.

The Home Ventilating Institute, HVI Division of AMCA International, Inc., a nonprofit organization, recommends that you estimate the number of square feet in your attic and multiply that number by 0.7 to find the proper size power attic ventilator for you attic.

Tip #3 Be Sure To Select And Install An HVI Tested/Certified Power Attic Ventilator.
It is your assurance that your power attic ventilator will perform the way it is intended.

HVI tests and rates power attic ventilators, as well as other home ventilating products, for performances according to industry standards. You can obtain a free list of HVI Tested/Certified products by contacting the HVI. Phone: 1-847-394-0150.