Many folks think ventilation is just a means of cooling the house in the summertime. But cooling is just one feature of ventilation. A more important function of ventilation is to get rid of excess humidity. And moisture is probably a home’s worst enemy. Proper ventilation fights the moisture problem year round. Here are the places where ventilation should be addressed:

1. Of course, the attic is a prime target for ventilation. Since heat rises, the attic can be subject to intense heat in the summer. This warm air also transports humidity to the attic, and that can cause problems. The best attic ventilation for most homes would be a ridge vent along the top and soffit vents down below. If the roof doesn’t have a long ridgeline, a powered vent with a thermostat and a humidistat can rid the attic of heat and moisture.

2. A brick veneer home will have weep holes in the bottom course of the brick. These are just places where the vertical mortar joint between bricks is not filled. Often the homeowner thinks this was a bricklayer’s goof and fills the spaces. Don’t make this mistake! These weep holes add ventilation within the walls and offer an escape for moisture.

3. Bathrooms often have excess moisture and require vent fans to exhaust the steam from showers. Let the fan run for 10 to 15 minutes after a shower. These fans should exhaust to the outside if at all possible.

4. The airborne grease from cooking also has moisture. The vent fan over the range can usually handle this problem. However, the filter must be cleaned regularly.

5. Crawl spaces should be kept open to allow for cross ventilation except in the coldest of times.

6. The basement often suffers from lack of ventilation, and an exhaust fan may be the only answer.