On Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:04:54 -0400
"J. Clarke" wrote:

Steve O'Hara-Smith wrote:
On Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:51:02 GMT
[email protected] (Robert Scott) wrote:

There is something disturbing about making something that gives you
an incentive to continue to have poor attic ventilation, or even to
make your attic ventilation worse in order to raise the efficiency
of the water heating system.

Why ? What's so good about ventilating an attic rather than
using it as a heat trap.

Well, for one thing heat is the enemy of shingles--if you don't have
proper ventilation and are in a hot climate they'll very likely fail
prematurely.

Hmm good point - I'm too used to slate.

Then there's elimination of moisture--without adequate ventilation you
can get enough moisture buildup in the attic to result in mold on the
structure, and where there is mold there is shortly after rot.

Not seen that happen in unventilated lofts but it makes sense.

Then there are ice dams in winter.

Also too used to mild winters where below freezing is rare.

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