Posted on by David Reid

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Types of Roof Ventilation

You can walk around any neighborhood, look at the roofs, and see different things coming through and/or sitting on the roof.  These different roof penetrations all serve a certain purpose to help your roof and home function the way it’s supposed to.  One of the more important penetrations is your roof vents.  Roof vents come in different shapes and sizes, but all perform the same function: allowing your home to breathe correctly.

When you get a new roof, you’ll choose what style of vent based on the look you want and the ventilation system your attic has.  But what are the different types of roof vents to choose from?

1. Can intake and exhaust vents be used together?

The truth is you should use both intake and exhaust vents in your roof vent system so they can work in tandem and transfer the air.  You should examine the area of your roof and your house to figure out how many of each you will require to make a superior ventilation system.

2. What do intake vents do?

The purpose of intake vents is to transfer the air from outdoors into your house.  Soffit vents and eave vents are examples of intake vents that you might need in your house or attic. They are installed along the edge of the roof.  It is important you make sure no insulation or any other material is blocking the vent or it will not work properly.

3. What is the purpose of exhaust vents?

Exhaust vents, unlike intake vents, are installed at the topmost point of the roof.  They are meant to let the air from indoors travel outdoors, so there is continuous air flow.  The trapped hot air goes out from the attics through the ventilation space into nature.  They help eliminate moisture from your attics which in turn can keep your roofs stable for longer.

4. Are there different kinds of exhaust vents?

Yes.  Depending on the type of roof your house has, you may choose any of the following types of exhaust vents:

Ridge Vent: If your roof has a lot of ridges, you can use this form of ventilation.

Gable Vent: Meant for the gables of the roof.

Power Vent: Powered by electricity, this requires high maintenance.

Wind Turbine: Versatile and can be installed on any roof.

5. Does roof ventilation work throughout the year?

Ideally, all roof vents should be functioning all year round.  Otherwise, it defeated the purpose of continuous air flow in and out of the house.  No matter how hot or cold it is outside, the vents should work without getting damaged if you want a stable and moderate temperature inside the house.  Check for weatherproof options that will not let you down.

6. Why are roof vents made of different materials?

As mentioned before, there are different kinds of roof vents available in the market.  It is only fair that manufacturers use materials more suitable for the design of their vents than follow one standard pattern.  You can choose between study galvanized metal or artificial components depending on what your priorities are.  The former is stronger, but it can also get corroded more easily.

7. How does roof vents protect roofs from ice?

Sometimes, icicles can freeze along roofs and gutters causing a phenomenon called ice damming.  You do not understand how damaging it can be until much later.  The heat within the attic causes the snow to melt and then it again refreezes beneath your roofing.  With proper ventilation, the warm air will be transported before it can melt the ice and cause any kind of jamming.

8. Are roof vents useful during summers?

As the temperature rises outside, you cannot figure out how to cool down the interior of the house.  Why does that happen?  The rise in outside temperature also increases the temperature of the roof which in turn heats up attic.  Heat cannot escape through unventilated attics, and so it becomes oppressive.  Having a vented roof will drive away the warm air and greet you with cooler air.

TYPES OF VENTS

Ridge Vents

These are the vents installed at the peak of a sloped roof to allow humid air to escape. Hot air build-up in attics causes quite a lot of problems, such as overworked HVAC systems, shingle damage and mold formation.

Soffit Vents

A soffit vent is located on the underside of a home’s eaves to allow fresh air to enter the underside of the roof.  They do not dispel warm air like ridge vents, but their function is equally important in regulating the temperature inside a house.

Gable End Vents

This particular vent type offers two things: functionality and aesthetics.  The vents are installed at the very center of the attic, and you have a wide array of designs to choose from.

Although they have the same function as a ridge vent by pushing warm air out of the attic, this type of ventilation system is meant to be seen and mostly added for architectural purposes.

Turbine Vents

A turbine vent is a mushroom-shaped roofing component protruding from the roof’s surface.  Like ridge vents, they also get rid of hot air building up in the attic.  However, the air movement allows a more efficient flow of air inside.

Why is attic ventilation important to your roof and home?

Now you know the most common types of roof vents.  Which roof vent you choose depends on the look you want and the ventilation system.  No matter what kind of roof vent you want, the most important thing is that your attic is properly ventilated.  If it’s not, it will lead to a multitude of costly problems and headaches in the future.