Do Attic Fans Help With Ice Dams

An attic fan in winter can help prevent ice dams reduce moisture in your attic during winter months and prevent mold and mildew buildup due to moisture problems in the attic.

Do attic fans help with ice dams.

One of the best ways to maintain the temperature is through ventilation and a solar powered attic fan. Take a box fan into the attic and aim it at the underside of the roof where water is actively leaking in. Proper attic ventilation in winter prevents mold and mildew growth safeguarding your family against these harmful contaminants. Turn it on and allow the water to freeze again.

The whole reason your attic is hot in the first place is that there are leaks or poor insulation between your attic and your living space. If there are ice dams sometimes one will have condensation inside on the roof sheathing generally where the problem area is are most times in the early morning it will be frozen and the fan will help keep it from thawing dripping soaking the insulation and starting the cycle all over again. Here are a few simple steps that can help prevent snow build up on the roof ice dams and condensation in your attic. The fans must work in conjunction with existing ridge and soffit vents.

Although setting up fans in your attic will expel hot air they won t help you prevent ice dams. There are two main purposes of attic ventilation. All you re doing is making the heat escape faster from your cozy rooms. These fans use the power of the sun to generate energy and circulate air through the attic to prevent the temperature fluctuations that cause ice dams.

Box fan as expensive as the last option this is the cheapest solution to removing ice dams. You ll stop the leak in a matter of minutes says toh general contractor tom silva. Proper attic ventilation can prevent ice dams. This is only a temporary fix until you can make a more permanent repair.

To protect against damage to your structure and to reduce energy usage. See below for a shopp. This targeted dose of cold air will freeze the water in its tracks. If you push hot air out of your attic more hot air from inside your home will just rush in and take its place.

For more advice from tom see how to prevent ice dams. Good attic ventilation helps keep temperatures even preventing hot and cold spots that cause damaging ice dams where water can back up and freeze beneath your shingles. Bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans as well as dryer vents should never be discharged into the attic space and always discharge outside. Ice dams attic fans even with good attic insulation heated air from living spaces can build up in your attic.