Properly ventilating the house keeps it energy efficient in summer and helps prevent the formation of ice dams, which may damage the roof, in winter. In accomplishing this, soffit vents are integral to an attic ventilation system. Among the various types, vinyl soffit vents are practical choices for reasons such as affordability, availability, and so on.

Increased Energy Efficiency In Summer

During the hot summer months, the sun heats up the attic. This is a normal occurrence due to the weather. The heat then transfers to the living area below, which is kept cool by air conditioning. This places an additional load on it and forces the air conditioner to use up more electrical energy in order to keep the area within the temperature parameters set by the owner. Proper placement of soffit vents around the low end of the roof will help cool the attic and save electricity.

Preventing Ice Dam Formation In Winter

The cold external environment in winter causes a reversal in the direction of heat movement in the home. Because the living area is not hotter than the attic, heat from this area moves upward. The absence of ventilation, or incorrectly positioned vents, will result in the lower end of the roof to be cooler that its top end. When ice at the top melts due to the heat from the attic, it moves to the lower end as water. Due to the significantly colder lower end, it solidifies again and forms ice dams.

The Advantages Of Using Vinyl

A practical solution to ventilating the roof is the use of vinyl soffit vents. The popularity and low cost of vinyl makes it a good choice as a soffit vent. It is thus readily available almost anywhere, which makes replacing damaged vents easy. Also, the variety of styles and colors available allows the house owner to acquire soffit vents that match the roof and siding of the house.

Vinyl has inherently good resistance to heat and cold, so it does not deteriorate easily with the weather variations present in different parts of the country. Vinyl soffit vent assemblies are lightweight and easy to install once the requisite vent space has been made.

In Summary

Proper attic ventilation is a necessity if a homeowner is to keep the electricity bill low in summer and preserve the roofing of the house in winter. Vinyl soffit vents are an excellent choice when it comes to soffit vents. It is readily available, inexpensive, resists the weather well, and comes in a wider variety of options compared to soffit vents made of other materials.