What kind of professional installs attic ventilation? (roof, furnace, heat)

[CloudyDaysForever]

My attic needs ventilation as I have a mold problem in the summer and ice dams in the winter. The trouble is, I don't know what kind of professional to find for this kind of installation. Who do I call? What should I know about installing this kind of ventilation?

[dedratermi]

A roofer should be able to fix any attic ventilation problems you have. Check to see if there's anyone in your area that just fixes roof problems, as a lot of roofers generally want only the big jobs like a complete re-roof.

[chet everett]

The roofers that I know are not the best resources for attic ventilation. They really have no incentive to do it correctly.

The specialists I would start with are the smaller places that only do ventilation for attics -- I know there folks that do only that. They are skilled in putting in the vents in the best possible way with the least hassle. They often will suggest appropriate power ventilators too -- either mechanical, solar or hard wired, with appropriate sensors for safety and effectiveness.

Second option is to get an energy audit from an appropriately licensed firms / organization. They will generally be able to link you to a qualified attic ventilation provider. An energy audit will reveal the true heat loss / thermal load of the whole structure and will be able to precisely determine the ideal mix of ventilation and insulation as well as a whole host of important details about the various ways to maximize comfort / efficiency while minimizing energy use. Money well spend. The specific of both thermal imagining and air flow tests will guide you in minimizing the negative air infiltration to attic while making the "unconditioned" space in the attic work to your advantage.

Third option is a firm that specializes in insulation and venting attics -- the two go pretty much hand in hand.

I have seen data that shows a properly insulated / ventilated attic saves more energy than a new furnace for a fraction of the price. This is why it pays to get people with the skills to do this correctly. Inadequate venting / insulation will shorten the life of the roof's outer surface and potentially lead to premature failure of roof decking / fasica / soffits. Roofers that exploit these conditions are sadly too common... Of course there are roofers that will only install a high performance roof, and are trained my the manufacturer(s) as to how best make sure there are no warranty claims, but these types of skilled, honest roofers are not going to benefit themselves or even homeowners that are already dealing with a messed up improperly ventilated / insulated attic.