Just in case you needed telling, you should definitely take note if you detect a strong attic smell in your home! Firstly, in many cases, the unpleasant smells might begin infiltrating other areas of your residence. Secondly, and potentially much more serious, pervasive bad odors can be warning signs of other deeper issues. Whatever the cause (and there are many possibilities), when you detect a foul odor, it may be time to take a serious look at improving your attic ventilation. Below we'll take a look at some of the common causes of bad attic odors — and how having efficient, well-maintained attic ventilation can help prevent them.

Among the potential issues homeowners need to deal with in colder weather, few are quite as troublesome as ice dams. When winter arrives, the roof is a home's first line of defense against nature. Changing temperatures can force water to inconsistently melt and freeze once more, causing water leaks and icy blockages that may be responsible for causing damage to roof shingles, wood decking, gutters, and insulation down the line.

Your attic needs to breathe. Poor ventilation may lead to excess heat and moisture and potential roof system degradation. The attic ventilation options that are best for your home will vary based on the style of your roof to ensure that each attic space has a balanced system for intake and exhaust. Balanced systems need to draw in fresh air and export hot, moist air.

A balanced attic ventilation system helps reduce damaging heat and moisture in attic spaces, which may help reduce the load on air conditioning systems and lower the risk of ice dam formation in the winter.