Whether it’s heating up or cooling down in beautiful Southern California, the temperature of your attic is always important to keep in mind when it comes to your home’s energy consumption. The problem is that most people Los Angeles or the San Fernando Valley aren’t aware of this until it’s too late. I am going to therefore focus on the benefits of installing ventilation in your attic early on along with special attention on how to do it right.
The Benefits of Proper Attic Ventilation in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley
As it starts to warm up in Southern California, in Los Angeles and the Valley temperatures can now rise well above 100 degrees. But did you know that the temperature of your roof and inside your attic will rise even higher than that? This intense rise in heat will depreciate your shingles and shorten the lifespan of your roof.
However, if you make sure to ventilate your attic properly, the temperature will drop and help to protect both your home and your roof.
What about the winter months? Although Southern California winters aren’t as seasonably cold as most, it still gets chilly. You wouldn’t normally think ventilation is needed during these months, however, properly ventilating your attic during the winter will help to keep humidity down and minimize the damage to the roof that can come as a result of high moisture levels.
When ventilating your attic, you want to make sure you aren’t wasting energy or money. One thing to remember is to not add too much insulation. This can actually result in a blockage of airflow. Not only will you be wasting money, but you will also be doing your roof a disservice.
Also remember, that air conditioning is meant strictly for the interior of your home and is unnecessary for your attic. Correct attic ventilation will make sure you are not wasting energy that should go toward cooling members of your household versus attic storage.
Ventilator Options in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley
Electrical powered fans are the most common and popular ventilator options. Both roof-mounted and gable-mounted fans are great options. Remember to talk to a professional about what is best for your home.
It’s also important to remember that the actual fan is connected to your thermostat and is located inside your attic. In general, you want to keep your attic below ninety-five degrees at all times. Therefore, your fan will only turn on in order to keep your attic below said temperature.
If you aren’t interested in electrical powered attic fans, there are various renewable energy options you can consider, such as a solar powered attic fan. While the initial investment is higher, solar attic fans run on free and clean solar electricity. If you are concerned about lowering your electricity bill, solar attic fans are considered a great investment.
Wind powered attic fans are yet another option for clean energy ventilation. Similar to solar powered fans, wind powered fans use wind speeds to ventilate and cool your attic.
The level of reliability is important to consider when it comes to these renewable energy options. While they will save you money, they are not as reliable as electrical powered fans. The more sunlight or the higher the wind speed, the higher these options will perform. However, lower levels of sunlight or winds will reduce the effectiveness of your fan.
Ensuring the proper ventilation of your attic may take time some added time and investment. You will find, however, that the payoff will be worth it.