Your roof protects your home from the elements, but did you know that it can also help you save on your utility bills? In today’s post, local roofing company Adams Roofing Professionals, Inc. shares some of the aspects of the roof that can help improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Roofs are constantly exposed to solar heat and absorb a lot of it, which can trickle down into your living spaces and raise your indoor cooling requirements. If your cooling bills seem to experience a surge during the summer season, you should look into upgrading your attic insulation. Attic insulation can help reduce heat transfer between your attic and indoor spaces. In addition to keeping your home cool during the summer season, it can also help keep your home warm during the winter season.
Depending on the roof’s condition, new insulation can be installed on existing roofs without major changes. If you have a leaking roof, repairs should be done first, as moisture can damage most types of insulating material. In addition to helping you save on energy costs, proper insulation can also help extend your roof’s service life, as well as prevent problems like ice dams during winter.
Attics that lack proper ventilation tend to become hot and humid, especially during the summer season. Some of the trapped heat can radiate back indoors and raise the temperatures in your living spaces and raise your indoor cooling requirements. Trapped humidity in the attic can cause damage to structural components and encourage mold growth.
A standard attic ventilation system works like this: warm and humid air naturally moves upward and is vented through the exhaust vents. This creates negative pressure that pulls in fresh, cool air through intake vents located along the roof soffits. If properly sized, passive ventilation should be enough to cool the attic. Exhaust fans can be installed to improve attic ventilation.
Dark-colored surfaces absorb more heat than light-colored ones. This is why wearing a white shirt when under the sun feels more comfortable. A light-colored roof absorbs less heat, which means your choice of roof color can help you save on your energy costs. If you would rather have a relatively darker roof color, roofing manufacturers offer ENERGY STAR®-certified shingles that feature reflective coatings.
Adams Roofing Professionals, Inc. is your leading provider of roofing services. Give us a call at (847) 440-1411 or (847) 359-1400 or fill out our contact form to discuss roof repair cost or schedule an appointment.
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