It's no secret that properly insulating your loft can increase energy efficiency and save you an awful lot of money on your heating bills. But what about attic ventilation, is this something you need to be concerned about?

From reducing energy costs to extending the life of your roof, attic ventilation is an extremely important part of running a cost-efficient home, whilst keeping the structural condition of your house in top form. So we thought we'd share a little bit of friendly advice, just to bring you up to speed.

Why Attic Ventilation is Important

 

Just like properly insulating your loft prevents warm air escaping through the roof, a properly ventilated attic helps circulate the air appropriately, preventing a build up of heat.

When an attic gets too hot, and that hot air has nowhere to go, moisture and condensation can start to build. Not only is this damaging to the structural materials of your loft and roof, but it can also lead to high levels of moisture – a major cause of mould and mildew. Thus, having adequate attic ventilation is not only imperative to preserving the condition of your home, it's also important to have if members of the family have allergies or respiratory problems.

The two main methods of attic ventilation are ridge vents and soffit vents and can be fitted either by yourself or a professional – so installing a safe, secure loft ladder to get up there and take a look around beforehand is vital.

Soffit vents are probably the most common, and are easy to install by yourself. They allow outside air to enter the attic at the lowest point of the roof to ensure adequate circulation.

 

Ridge vents operate in conjunction with soffit vents and are installed along the ridge of the roof. When utilised together, they ensure optimum circulation – from the lowest point of the roof to the very highest.

 

Remember, it's always important to get your attic regularly checked – if only to ensure no moisture damage has already taken place. So be sure to install a proper loft ladder to provide safe, easy access whenever you need it.