Powered Attic Ventilation Problems

In the winter we get calls about wet attics.

Powered attic ventilation problems.

If the attic fan isn t turning on it could be an electrical issue a problem with the thermostat or the motor of the fan that s not working. I do have some passive ventilation but not quite enough and the gables are maxed out because it s a flat roof so as long as i always run both fans at the same time and as. At temperatures of 150 f or more that s a lot of heat sitting there in that plywood or osb. In the summer we get calls about hot attics.

Insufficient ventilation can lead to moisture problems during the winter and decreased energy efficiency during the summer but too much ventilation can be just as bad if not worse. According to the article powered attic fans can create excess moisture structural problems and combustion safety in a home. Air movement can be a significant problem with some models. Sealed attics trap excessive heat and moisture which can lead to reduced shingle life.

Hello i really appreciate this website. Here are some of the myths and the facts you need to know about attic ventilation. The research concluded that if a powered attic ventilator will be used there must be a good air barrier between the living space and the attic. Attic fan not turning on.

Attic ventilation problems can be caused by a number of things. Just like properly sizing your furnace and air conditioning unit you want precisely the right amount of attic ventilation for your home. These are real problems from real houses that have really happened. One potential problem would be sucking moist moldy air up from the crawl space into the house.

The suggested remedy was to increase the powered attic ventilation and turn on bath fans to remove moisture from the structure. Another would be backdrafting a water heater and putting carbon monoxide in the house. But my contractor is suggesting adding one to support a whole house fan due to the limited attic ventilation. A lack of intake ventilation is one of the biggest items.

Although there are some benefits to this fact you may discover that there isn t enough strength to push the air out of the attic like you want. I understand that powered attic ventilators have a lot of problems. This actually exacerbated the problem by increasing the pressure difference moving more humid outside air through the building cavity which created more condensation on the sheet metal duct. Some of it will go directly into the attic air by conduction but that s a small amount because air isn t a good conductor.

The science behind attic ventilation however is sound. More attic ventilation is good. Here are the most common problems that homeowners face with fans along with solutions to the problems. The underside of the roof deck can get very hot so hot you can t keep your hand on it.