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Ventilate Your Home
Too much humidity in a home can cause dangerous moisture buildup that leads to wood rot, mold, paint peeling and leaks. Cut your air conditioning bill down and give your house a breath of fresh air with these ventilation tips.
Ridge Vents
Ridge vents are installed from end to end on the roof and have a low profile, making them less noticeable from the street. They are the most effective non-powered ventilators available, providing uniform cooling along the entire roof deck.
As wind blows over the external wind baffle on the vent, it creates an area of negative pressure. This effect draws air up from the attic, effectively removing heat and humidity and pulling in cooler air through soffit vents under the eaves. Look for ridge vents with filters that protect against rain, snow, dust and insects.
Power Vents
Power vents forcibly exhaust heat and humidity from the attic, even on days with no wind. The air enters through intake vents (typically located under the eaves) and is pulled through and exhausted from the attic with electric fans.
Power attic vents with two-speed controls are appropriate for areas with high temperature extremes. They come with an adjustable thermostat; low speed for energy efficiency ventilation, and high speed which kicks in when the temperature reaches the extreme.
If moisture is a problem in your attic, consider adding a ventilator with an automatic humidistat. These are available in both gable-mounted and roof-mounted styles.
For safety, the motor should have an overload protection to shut the fan off if the motor overheats.
Whole-House Fans
Whole-house fans exchange air in your home much more rapidly than air conditioning units, providing a fast and efficient way to lower indoor temperatures. A whole-house fan draws outdoor air through open windows. A whole-house fan is especially effective at night and in the early morning when temperatures are cooler, but even in the daytime, air circulating through the home can make temperatures feel cooler.
There are two basic whole-house fan designs: direct-drive and belt-drive. With either one, you can get a variety of speed controls, including single, triple and variable. Direct-drive fans are easier to install than belt-drive because they do not require attic floor joists to be cut. Belt-driven types may take a little more work to install, because you might have to cut a joist, but they offer increased circulation and quieter operation.
For small to medium-size houses, a direct-drive fan is the choice. The blades are mounted directly under the motor and attached to the motor shaft. Install a belt-drive fan in larger homes. A belt connects a pulley on the motor to a pulley on the fan blades. The result is a higher air flow and a quieter fan due to the steeply pitched slow-turning blades that are used.
Foundation Vents
Excess moisture in crawlspaces promotes rot, mold, mildew, and invites termites to dine on the floor joists. Foundation vents are your homes first line of defense against excess moisture.
In homes with crawl spaces and dirt floors, most moisture enters the home through the crawl space. Good crawlspace ventilation circulates fresh air through the crawlspace and exhausts musty, moist air.
Check your foundation vents regularly to ensure they open and close properly.
