Do You Need to Cover Your Roof Vents in Winter?

Winter is here, and heating and insulation have become top priorities so that you and your family may spend the cold season in comfort. You’ve double-checked your weatherstripping to guarantee that your doors and windows will withstand the cold and won’t let the freezing air inside. However, you’re undecided about whether or not to conceal a potential cold-air entry point: the roof vents. Do you need to cover your roof vents in winter? 

Function of Roof Vents

 

Roof vents allow air to flow freely through your attic and out the back of your house. They function by utilizing intake and exhaust vents, both of which are necessary for proper indoor ventilation. During the summer, they operate continually, drawing in fresh air from outside and exhausting the stuffy, hot air trapped in your attic. This not only helps your roofing in general by protecting your shingles, but it also helps your HVAC system by reducing the load on it and preventing moisture buildup.

 

Do You Cover Them or Not?

 

Roof vents come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including turbines (metal chimneys with a spherical metal object on top) and soffit vents. It is not required to cover your roof vents, regardless of what type you have installed. Roof vents are commonly thought to need to be closed to prevent internal heating loss because they are entryways, and many believe that ventilation could waste hot air within your home. Any roof replacement contractor will tell you that this is not necessarily the case.

 

It’s important to remember that attics must be properly insulated in the first place. This will keep your attic and roof vents working while preventing heat loss. Proper attic insulation prevents hot air from within your home from entering the attic space, preventing heat loss or outside air from entering your living rooms through the attic (which most people think will cause a spike in their bills). Monitoring the temperature at night is an easy way to see if your attic is well-insulated. A well-insulated attic should be close to the outside climate’s temperature, and if it’s warmer, your internally heated air is seeping into your attic.

 

Contact Us!

For any inquiries, you can reach Neumann Construction at (218) 270-0009 or fill out our contact form to request an estimate. We proudly serve clients and homeowners in Brainerd, MN.