How to Cool an Attic That Has a Ridge Vent
- 1). Inspect sofft vents at least once annually. Your home almost certainly has soffit vents built into them, but in many homes, attic ventilation is made less effective by simply allowing the buildup of debris and other materials in the vents so that cool air cannot be pulled into the attic. Clear the soffit vents of debris and obstruction at least once per year.
- 2). Install rafter vents. An important way of improving the ventilation performance of ridge vents is to use rafter vents. Rafter vents are installed in between attic roof rafters to pull cool air into the attic from the outside and to help it circulate back out through the ridge vents. Rafter vents are stapled directly to roof decking at the point where the attic roof meets the attic floor.
- 3). Maintain attic insulation. When cool air escapes the attic and is allowed into other parts of the home, less air circulates inside the attic and poor ventilation quickly results. Inspect your insulation at least once annually and replace it should it become water-logged and ineffective. If there is a roof leak dripping water onto the insulation, repair the roof leak right away to prevent more insulation from becoming soaked and ineffective.