If the attic ventilation system is not a balanced combination of intake vents installed in the soffit under eave or at the roof s bottom edge and exhaust vents installed at or near the roof s peak the attic ventilation system will not be efficient and effective.
Attic without ventilation.
Typically you would have a gable vent on each end of the attic.
One great alternative to a soffit ventilation system is to install an intake vent right at the lower edge of the roof.
When the attic becomes part of the home to be heated and cooled open wall gable vents and roof vents are no longer feasible but the underside of the roof the sheathing and rafters can still.
This will use more energy and make your air conditioner work harder which will increase your summer utility bill.
This moisture is released into the air inside the house from bathing cooking plants laundry and other causes.
If i had an older home without soffits i would do everything possible to make sure that my attic is properly ventilated.
But if you ve got an unfinished attic giving it proper insulation is one of the simplest ways to keep a lid on your heating bill this season.
On the principle that hot air rises the accumulated heat and moisture would rise to the attic and out the roof vents.
Normal vented air likes to enter the attic lower down near the bottom third of the attic and as it passes through it will exit higher up near the top third of the attic space.
Poor insulation is usually the culprit although if you enter the attic on sunny winter day your attic space can be warmed by the sun more than your furnace.
Without adequate ventilation moisture rises with the hot air and forms condensation on the inside of the roof deck.
For an attic without soffit vents you may have the option to use gable vents instead.
Looking to learn more about home maintenance.
How to vent an attic with no eaves.
Attic ventilation keeps your house cooler in summer and it prevents moisture from building up in winter and ruining your roof framing and insulation.
They call this a venting drip edge.
If your attic has inadequate ventilation it can act like a heat trap and lead to premature shingle aging warp wood sheathing lead to mold issues and increase your hvac costs.
Unless your roofing system has insulation on the roofing deck and is designed without ventilation your furnace should not be heating your attic.