Every homeowner selects the roof material that can last for decades. However, your roof starts showing signs of wear and tear when it ages. Your roofing must be durable and sturdy enough to handle extreme weather fluctuations and high temperatures. But, as it ages, you might experience leakage, broken or missing shingles, and other roof damages. One such problem that may arise from aging roofing is poor ventilation. The ventilation system consists of the vents responsible for air circulation. Proper air circulation keeps the atmosphere in your home cool. With condensation trapped inside your roof, there is a high chance your roof will attract mold.
Tips for Prevent Problems with Your Roof Ventilation as Your Roof Ages
If your roof looks too worn to be repaired, replacement is your ideal solution. Improving the ventilation will keep your roof in good condition and maintain the atmosphere in your home. Poor roof ventilation can lead to the hot air trapped inside your home, causing costly property damage. Improving the ventilation can prevent your roof from trapping warm air, especially in areas exposed to high temperatures. It also protects your roof from attracting mold and mildew. Let’s check out a few common roof ventilation problems with the aging roof and their solutions.
Ice Dams
Do you see the large ice dams forming on the roof? The accumulation of snow on your roofing is a sign of poor roof and attic ventilation. This prevents the snow from melting and the water from falling off the roof. As a result, the water gets trapped inside the shingle and infiltrates your house. The collection of ice around the gutters can damage these gutters. Ice dams are likely to form in places that receive scorching and freezing weather throughout the year.
The regular freezing and melting of the ice can cause ice dams to form on the roof, damaging your dry walls and paints. To prevent ice dams, you must check the attic insulation regularly and replace it when needed. You should also consider adding another layer of ventilation to let the warm air out of the attic. Check for the air leaks in your attic and seal them before winter. You should also remove all heat sources from the attic to keep it cool.
Mold and Mildew
Poor weather is your roof’s biggest enemy. Fall and spring, specifically, make your roof a breeding ground for different living organisms. Your roof tends to attract mold and mildew when the humidity level increases. The condition seems worse when you don’t pay attention to the ventilation system. Poor ventilation is one of the leading causes of moldy roofing. The mold growth on your roof doesn’t only damage your roof structure, but it has a serious impact on your health too. So, it makes sense to inspect the ventilation in your roof regularly.
The roof attracts mold because of moisture. The best thing you can do is install a shingle shield, which releases zinc oxide. This kills algae and other types of fungus growth. However, nothing can prevent mold growth in your attic if it’s caused by poor ventilation. You need to keep your roof dry to prevent mold and mildew growth.
Your Air Conditioner Malfunctions
Your HVAC unit has to work harder to offer the same heating/cooling effect if there is dust in the air filter or other problems in the system. While your HVAC might not work because of the poor filter and a worn component, poor roof ventilation can also affect your HVAC system. If the warm air gets trapped in your room, your air conditioner will have to work harder to cool your room. This can damage your AC. If your HVAC takes longer than usual to cool your room or it malfunctions frequently, it is a sign of poor roof ventilation.
Roof Leaks
Several factors can make your roof susceptible to leakage. The most common causes are broken shingles, clogged gutters, and not to mention, poor ventilation. If you ignore roof ventilation, it can cause serious issues later for your property and health. If a roof leak is not addressed immediately, it can lead to other problems, like mold and mildew in your attic. Roof leaks can occur due to other problems in your roofing too. So, it is best to conduct a roof inspection to identify the cause of leakage.
Sagging of the Roof Deck
Excess moisture on your roof will most likely result in moisture trapping into the shingle. Without proper ventilation in place, moisture problems can turn into serious roof damage that might change the shape of the deck. When you look at the roof, the shingles look like they are dipping in instead of forming a straight line.
Water accumulation on the roof can ruin the shape of the shingles, which might make the roof feel soggy to sit or walk on. It is a sign that moisture has accumulated beneath the shingles. You need to immediately call a professional roof contractor to see the issue and replace the damaged shingles. Later, you can inspect the exhaust vents and the overall health of your roof.
Hot and Cold Spots
Have you ever walked into your attic and felt extremely hot while the other rooms are cool? You might experience a fluctuating temperature in different rooms because of a poor roof ventilation system. Some rooms might feel hot, while others are cooler. Not only does it lead to the hot and cold spots in your home, but the temperature fluctuations can increase your electricity bills significantly. As mentioned before, your HVAC system has to overwork to take the hot air out of the room and keep the temperature of your home cool.
If you notice any of the above signs of problems in roof ventilation, call Edmonton Roofing experts on Tel:+1 (780) 710 9990. They will perform a roof inspection to identify the cause and severity of the problem. We will also suggest the most viable solution to fix the roof damage.
