During the cold seasons, vents help in dispersing moisture that may otherwise cause molds. While this also works in a ridge vent, it is quite useful in turbines as they are attached to the roof making the dispersion a lot faster. When it comes to ridge ventilation, you need to plan before the actual installation of the roof.
What is the best type of ridge vent?
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Are ridge vents better than box vents?
They are also more dependable and less likely to leak. Most importantly, ridge vents are more efficient than box or turtle vents. Since a ridge vents are a continuous vent along the top of the roof’s ridge, they release the hottest air from the attic with a vacuum-like effect.
What are the pros and cons of ridge vents?
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Are static roof vents better than turbines?
Turbine roof vents play a more active role in air movement than static vents. Using a turbine, they suck air up through the vent in much the same way a vacuum cleaner would—though perhaps not quite as powerful. It is the active component that makes turbine vents more suitable for properties where a lot of air movement needs to be generated.
Can you have attic fan and ridge vent?
Combining an attic power vent fan with a ridge vent is usually not recommended because: It could reverse the natural flow of hot air out the ridge vent. If air is drawn in through the ridge vent while it's raining, it might pull rainwater in with it, which could lead to leaking or mold in the attic.
Is ridge vents better than turbines?
While ridge vents win for their subtle appearance and functionality, turbine vents may be better in especially hot or humid climates where more dynamic airflow is necessary. If you are not sure which to use, consult a roof professional who can examine the needs of your home and draw up a venting plan for you.
Can you have ridge vents and box vents?
1:176:30Why You NEED Ridge Vent! RidgeVent vs Box Vent - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow i have two of your traditional. Box vents right here there's also a big mushroom vent again butMoreNow i have two of your traditional. Box vents right here there's also a big mushroom vent again but we're just going to use these for the stake of the video.
Can you use a whole house fan with a ridge vent?
While a power vent fan combined with a ridge vent can work against the natural flow of air through the attic, it will still exhaust more hot air than not having a fan at all, it's just not the most efficient way to go about it.
Where should a turbine roof vent be installed?
Near the peak of the roof on a rear slope with the turbine top exposed to the wind from all directions. when installing two, place each one 1/4 the distance from each end of the house. when installing three, place one in the center and the other two 1/6 the distance from each end of the house.
Should I cover turbine roof vents in winter?
You should absolutely leave your roof vents open during the winter – do not cover them! During the winter, roof ventilation works to keep temperatures even. Closing your vents makes the attic space too warm and dry – dangerous conditions for mold as well as pests.
Do you need roof vents if you have a ridge vent?
Some types of air ventilation systems rely on other pieces of equipment to work properly. While roof ridge vents can work alongside box vents or soffit vents, they also do not need these other vents to operate. Ridge vents effectively release moisture from your home, greatly reducing the risk of mold or mildew.
What is the most effective roof venting system?
Soffit vents are a favorite amongst home builders and roofers because they are unquestionably the most effective intake vent for the cost. If a home's style allows for it, most new construction builders include soffit vents in their home's blueprint.
Which is better roof vent or ridge vent?
Roofing contractors consider ridge vents to be the most preferred option when ventilating the roof of any home. Ridge vents are less invasive than other vent types while remaining the most cost-effective and energy-efficient compared to other roof vent types.
Are ridge vents better than attic fans?
If you had to choose just one—and your attic has a great need for ventilation—an attic fan is your best bet. Attic fans in the $300 to $400 range can move upwards of 5,000 CFM. For lower capacity ventilation at a steep cost savings, a ridge vent might be your best choice.
Do ridge vents help cool house?
When you have a new home built, or you're replacing a roof, then installing a ridge vent helps to balance out the transfer of hot and cold air.
Do ridge vents work without soffit vents?
If there is no soffit venting, the ridge vent has no option but to pull air from the other side of the ridge vent.
Which is more effective, a roof turbine or a ridge vent?
Roof turbines are more effective in winter than ridge vents. As mentioned before roof turbines can vent more volume of air at a time than ridge vents. Since ridge vents work on the principle of convection they are not very effective during winter.
How tall is a ridge vent?
A typical ridge vent has a height of only one inch or less and it cannot be seen from the outside. In contrast, you can spot a whirlybird from a mile away. From a distance, they look like large mushrooms sprouted on the roof. To be honest, they are hideous to look at compared to the more sophisticated ridge vents.
How does a roof turbine work?
Roof turbines remove air by active ventilation while ridge vents do that by passive ventilation. Even though roof turbines do not consume any energy they remove air just like active ventilators. This is because when the wind flows, it moves the fins of the turbine vent making it work as an active ventilator.
Why do roof turbines exhaust air?
Roof turbines exhaust air due to the spinning action of their blades which is caused by outside wind movement. When there is no wind blowing the turbine will remain stationary not moving any attic air. Since ridge vents work based on convection they work irrespective of the weather conditions.
Which is better for venting attic or roof?
Both roof turbines and ridge vents are great options for ventilating an attic. The answer to which one of them is better depends on your preferences and where you live. If you need vents that do not visually affect the roof then your only option is a ridge vent.
Can you use ridge vents in attic?
Also if you live in an area that doesn’t have much wind movement, again, ridge vents are the only option. On the other hand, if you care more about performance and you are located in an area with mild winds roof turbines are a great choice for your attic ventilation.
Do roof turbines need more maintenance than ridge vents?
Roof turbines require more maintenance than ridge vents. As you know roof turbines have moving parts. They are also made of metal which is likely to rust whereas ridge vents don’t have any such issues. Therefore roof turbines require more maintenance than ridge vents.
Turbine Vents
A turbine vent consists of an array of wind-catching vanes that are arranged in a ring. They are like wind or water turbines used in other applications, and they work in much the same manner. Turbine vents are powered by the wind and require no other external power source.
Ridge Vents
Ridge vents are vents that run the span of your roof’s ridge or peak. They aren’t active in nature but are considered passive ventilation devices. Since the hottest air in your attic rises to the top, thermodynamics lead it to vent from the attic at the highest point, which is the ridge.
What is a ridge vent?
A ridge vent is a passive system and offers less air movement, and in moderate climates this style tends to be sufficient. In more extreme climates, one or more turbines will provide better circulation. For optimal performance, ridge vents require soffit venting to bring air up and out the top of the roof.
How does a turbine vent work?
A turbin e is installed directly on the top of a roof and uses wind power to suck hot and humid air out of the attic. A turbine has a series of vanes that spin as wind passes through them. A ridge vent runs across the top of the roof's peak. Unlike turbines, this venting style does not have any moving parts. A ridge vent is similar ...
Why is ventilation important in a roof?
During winter, attic ventilation is needed to prevent ice dams from forming, and during the hot summer months, ventilation helps to remove hot air which reduces mold growth and protects the shingles from excessive heat.
Why are roof turbines less expensive?
Roof turbines are usually less expensive to install because they only require the removal of a small section of shingles and an appropriately sized hole to be drill through the roof. Flashing and sealant is used to prevent water from seeping in around the opening.
Can a ridge vent be installed on an existing roof?
Ridge vent systems normally run the full length of the roof. For this system to be installed on an existing roof, the entire peak must be cut away, which can make the installation more expensive than installing a turbine.
Does a ridge vent have moving parts?
Unlike turbines, this venting style does not have any moving parts. A ridge vent is similar to a screen and allows heat to escape up and out of the attic. A ridge vent installed along a roof's peak will move hot and humid air up and out of the attic.
Do ridge vents need soffit?
For optimal performance, ridge vents require soffit venting to bring air up and out the top of the roof. Regardless of the type of attic ventilation you choose, it's important that's it's installed correctly by a licensed roofing contractor.
Why do wind turbines need ridge vents?
Because ridge vents span the length of the ridges, they take a lot more time and work to build than a wind turbine , which just requires the removal of a few tiles. Roof turbines require greater upkeep than ridge vents. Roof turbines, as you may know, contain moving components.
What is a ridge vent?
Roof turbines are the spinning objects that may be seen on the roofs of homes and businesses, while ridge vents are shallow vents that run along the roof’s ridge. Let’s take a closer look at the similarities and differences between ridge vents and whirlybird roof turbines.
What happens when wind blows over a roof vent?
A gust of wind flowing over the ridge vent may produce a low pressure zone on the leeward side, speeding up air removal, although the volume of air moved is still less than a wind turbine. Roof turbines take up less space and are less expensive to build.
Why are roof turbines ineffective in winter?
Ridge vents are ineffective in the winter because they rely on the concept of convection.
How do turbines work?
3 Roof turbines use active ventilation to remove air, while ridge vents use passive ventilation. 4 Ridge vents blend in with the roof, while turbine vents stand out. 5 More air is moved by roof turbines than by ridge vents. 6 Roof turbines take up less space and are less expensive to build.
Why is passive ventilation used in roof turbines?
Because the hot air is not pushed out of the attic, but rather evacuated by providing an outlet , this is a passive ventilation technique. Despite the fact that roof turbines and ridge vents operate in different ways, both need the existence of air intake vents such as soffit vents to function properly.
What happens to a roof turbine when there is no wind?
When there is no wind, the turbine will stay motionless, and no attic air will be moved.
Why are vents good for ridge vents?
While this also works in a ridge vent, it is quite useful in turbines as they are attached to the roof making the dispersion a lot faster .
What is a turbine vent?
Though it may look like something very complicated, it is a simple machine containing a circular fan which turns and starts circulating air when there is a breeze or wind. The benefits that you will enjoy if you install turbines are as follows.
How to tell if a house has vents?
It is hard to tell if a house has the vents installed or not if you look from the ground up. If you live in an area where the climate is consistently warm, you can have the vents installed along several ridges without making the roof look weird.
What happens when you have ridge ventilation?
During the hot seasons, you will notice that upstairs or in the attic, the air is sweltering. With ridge ventilation, the hot air escapes naturally, which helps in maintaining the overall cool of the house. Likewise, during the cold seasons, the warm air inside the vents is prevented from escaping by the cold air outside, making the home warmer. ...
Do turbine vents require much space?
When it comes to choosing between the two types of vents, you have to decide which one best suits you. A turbine vent does not require much space to install compared to the ridge ones hence less expensive. When it comes to durability, ridge ventilation take the first place because turbine ventilation may get debris and malfunction ...
Do you need to use energy to install a turbine vent?
After you install the turbine vents, you will not incur any extra costs apart from when maybe they need replacement. In short, they are wind-powered and do not need to use any energy that will cost you. The fans inside the turbines are sensitive to wind or any breeze, which means that the turbines will move most of the time hence circulating more air without any energy cost.
Does the cold air inside the vents make the house warmer?
Likewise, during the cold seasons, the warm air inside the vents is prevented from escaping by the cold air outside, making the home warmer. This is made possible by the design of the vents.
What happens when a power vent goes off?
When the power vent goes off, it acts like a roof louver (an opening on the roof without a motor.
What factors affect the temperature of the attic?
Other factors are the geographical location, sun intensity, orientation of the primary roof plane, and amount of total ventilation.
How hot can an attic be?
With any attic ventilation system, the attic can be 20 degrees hotter than outside. Attic ventilation should protect the roof sheathing, insulation, and shingles from temperature and moisture extremes.
What are the advantages of turbine roof vents?
Another advantage of turbine roof vents is that they are quite effective . If you happen to live in low wind areas, turbines can do a tremendous job of moving the warm air out of the attic areas of your home. You should also note that when the wind is blowing, these vents can turn into a powerful vacuum of warm air and draw up the warm air through them effectively, just as any powered alternative would. Therefore, you need to keep in mind and clearly understand when thinking about using them.
Why do turbine roof vents have warm air?
Warm air is the one that will be drawn through because it is the one that rises, and the vents are mounted on the roof of your property. Turbine roof vents closely resemble a chrome chef’s hat protruding through the roof. These turbine roof vents are also carefully engineered to provide the best performance.
Why are roof vents important?
Since these roof vents depend highly on the wind to be effective, they are only beneficial in areas prone to high winds. The major drawdown to this factor is that winds are unreliable. This means that if you live in an area that doesn’t have enough wind, you may end up losing out.
Do turbine roof vents take up space?
Although turbine roof vents are visible from the ground compared to some of the other roof vents, they don’t take up a large space. For instance, it needs to take up almost the entire length of a roof for a ridge vent to be effective. However, a turbine roof vent can cover the same area with only a few strategically placed vents.
Is a turbine roof vent easy to install?
Cheap and Easy to Install. When you compare turbine roof vents with ridge vents, this type of vent is quite easy to install. Therefore, this means that installing these roof vents is not only easy but also cheap and affordable. Also, there are no electrical components found in a turbine roof vent because the wind directly powers them.
Do turbine roof vents have drawdowns?
Turbine roof vents also come with their drawdowns which I’ll highlight in this section. The good news is that the benefits outnumber the drawdowns, making them ideal to use in your property.
Can a turbine roof be used on a large roof?
Turbine roof vents are suitable for any size of the property. Therefore, there is no minimum or maximum size of the roof needed for this type of roof vent for it to be effective. This is highly unlikely with ridge vents because they are sometimes not suitable for small properties. Turbine roof vents can work perfectly in both small and large roofs, plus you can easily handle them by adding more vents.
THE PROS: WHY YOU SHOULD USE TURBINE ROOF VENTS
There are plenty of reasons why you should consider adding turbine roof vents to your home. First, they’re easy to install. It’s usually as simple as cutting a hole into the roof during a reroof and installing the new vent. With that being said it’s also a bit cheaper compared to some of the more luxury items such as ridge vent.
THE CONS: WHY YOU SHOULD NOT USE TURBINE ROOF VENTS
By their very nature, turbines are not meant to be wholly wind-tight or weather-proof. Because they ventilate through such a large number of slits in the fins, they are more susceptible to becoming clogged by large debris or wind-blown rain.
OTHER TYPES OF VENTILATION THAT WOULD BE GOOD IN PLACE OF TURBINE ROOF VENTS
Increasingly, more and more homeowners are thinking of changing out their old home’s ventilation for a brand new one. This is due to the fact that used homes are prone to be less comfortable compared with the newer ones; this is because they lack many things that can make them enjoyable places to live in.
What vents pull air from the soffit?
Two: the highest vent will pull air from the next biggest opening below it. So if you have a ridge vent it will tend to pull air from the soffits unless you have another opening before the soffit—ie box vent, electric vent, whirly bird, or gable vent. Best solution is Electric attic roof mount with soffit vents only.
Do attic fans work?
The only effective means are more insulation (preferred) or a radiant barrier up against the inside of the roof. Attic fans suck air out of the attic to the outdoors. This means that every leak in your house allows cool, air conditioned air to be sucked into the attic.
Can you use a ridge vent with a power vent?
Combining an attic power vent fan with a ridge vent is usually not recommended because: It could reverse the natural flow of hot air out the ridge vent. If air is drawn in through the ridge vent while it’s raining, it might pull rainwater in with it, which could lead to leaking or mold in the attic.
