How proper ventilation supports healthier indoor air

By Karen L. Edwards. 

What happens above the ceiling line can impact moisture control and long-term health inside the home. 

Indoor air quality conversations often center on air purifiers, HVAC upgrades or cleaning routines, but some of the most consequential factors are hidden well above eye level. At GAF, roofing and ventilation experts consistently see how overlooked attic and appliance ventilation can influence moisture movement, structural durability and the air families breathe every day. From everyday activities that generate unseen humidity to exhaust systems that never make it outdoors, the roof plays a far more active role in indoor health than most homeowners realize, making proper ventilation a critical and often misunderstood part of the equation. 

Where does trapped moisture come from? 

Moisture is generated from people, appliances, plants and daily activities. One person in the home breathing can produce three pints of water in one day. By that metric, a family of four could generate up to 12 pints of moisture or the equivalent of 1.5 gallons, daily. Cooking a meal can also generate a pint of water and running appliances, like the dishwasher, can contribute to moisture entering your living space. 

GAF Senior Product Manager Jeff Avitabile explains that, without proper ventilation, this moisture can make its way into your attic, leading to issues. "If you're not evacuating and getting the moisture from your dryers, your bathroom, your kitchen and other living activities out of the living space properly, it will typically collect in your attic. This leads to issues, like mold, mildew and building material rot." 

When mold forms in the attic, it releases spores that travel through the air and can be breathed in by occupants of the home, which can have serious health consequences. 

Michael Russo, product manager at GAF, reinforces the dangers of mold. "Without proper roof ventilation, homeowners are at a greater risk of suffering health issues if mold does develop. Plus, it's very expensive to hire specialists for mold remediation." 

Talk to your contractor about proper ventilation 

Avitabile explains that many homeowners don't even know if their ventilation is doing the job it was intended to do or whether it was properly installed. "If you have a bathroom being remodeled, unfortunately, a lot of contractors will just evacuate the heat and moisture from the shower into your attic space and then, your attic ventilation system can't keep up." 

The team at GAF has seen cases where they've been called out because a homeowner thinks their ridge vents are not functioning properly, only to discover that there's a bathroom fan exhaust that's pumping moisture into the attic. 

He shared the importance of talking to your contractor about proper ventilation, saying, "If you're having home alterations like a bathroom or kitchen remodel, it's a great time to ensure proper ventilation with your contractor." When you're discussing the plans with your contractor, be sure to ask: "Are you going to properly vent this to the outside through the roof and not into my attic?" 

When and why to replace venting systems 

If you're replacing your roof, that's the perfect time to think about replacing your roof ventilation. 

"If you're replacing a roof, we recommend replacing the rooftop attic vents and the bath and dryer appliance vents," says Avitabile. "There are folks out there who will try to reuse one, but we recommend replacing the entire system whenever you're replacing the roof." 

Replacing roof ventilation during a roof replacement, when installed by a GAF-certified contractor, can bring additional benefits, as one warranty covers both the roof and the vents. 

"When a certified contractor installs them as part of a GAF enhanced warranty, the vents pick up all the enhanced warranty coverage," explains Avitabile. "You're dealing with one contractor and a system of products designed to function effectively together on the roof—all backed by one manufacturer." 

If you're not replacing your roof but undertaking any type of remodel or construction project, make sure to have the conversation with your contractor about potentially replacing ventilation and, at the very least, about where any new exhaust vents will be placed. 

If your remodel includes the installation of new household appliances such as bathroom & kitchen fans or clothes dryers, GAF has you covered with the Master Flow™ Bath & Dryer Rooftop Appliance Vent and by ensuring those new appliances are properly exhausted through the roof. Proper ventilation of appliances, like clothes dryers, reduces the risks of clogged or blocked vents, which can increase the risk of fire. 

Original article source: GAF