Venting Into Attic Space

In the winter warm moist air seeps into the attic from the living space below.

Venting into attic space.

When done correctly attic venting can reduce the potential for condensation in winter and summer. Ideally the range hood should be vented to the outside usually through the roof. That keeps your attic dry and reduces ice dams. And many building codes require discharging exhaust to the building s exterior so it s just a good rule of thumb.

The problem with attics. Venting into the attic sends excess moisture to that space which can cause mold and other problems. That cuts cooling costs and prolongs shingle life. So can you vent a bathroom exhaust fan into the attic.

Venting into attic in cold weather you can also add extra moisture to the attic area that could condense on the underside of the roof and cause moisture and possibly mold. Especially possible if a front comes through changes the pressures and temperatures. During winter the primary cause of attic moisture issues stem from warm moist air infiltrating into the attic space from the inhabited areas and condensing on cold surfaces. A ridge vent is a ventilation strip that is placed along the ridgeline of the home.

It is definitely not a good idea to vent a range hood into the attic. Your attic is not a temperature controlled environment is never the same temperature as your living space and generally closer to the temperature outside. Prior to installing the ridge vent a 1 inch wide strip of roof decking is cut out along both sides of the ridgeline to allow for air movement through the vent. Good ventilation allows the heat and moisture to escape.

We ve also seen homeowners have to replace all their roof decking because it became rotted from the excess moisture. Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves allow cool. The following is a list of options for installing ventilation into a residential attic space. The attic is usually colder than the rest of the house during the winter and that can create a problem for a dryer vent.

Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents.