WHY ROOF RIDGE VENT IS IMPORTANT – FAMILY ROOFING

Posted on by David Reid

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WHY ROOF RIDGE VENT IS IMPORTANT

Ridge vents run the length of your roof at its peak.  These vents allow air to circulate under the roof to prevent the buildup of moisture.  A ridge vent can blend in with your shingle or metal roofing so that it is not noticeable.  This is part of the roof’s peak.  The low profile design can actually fit under shingles.  It usually cannot be seen from the ground, especially on the roof of a two-story home.

Ridge vent is an essential part of your roofing system because it helps to properly ventilate your attic space and roof.  The vent is installed at the peak of the roof, where the ends of the two sloped sides meet.  It is usually capped with a material that blends in with the rest of the roof, making it almost invisible to the untrained eye.

Air flow

Ridge vents have an air space beneath them that allows for airflow along the top of the building under the roof.  The vents should include an external baffle and interior weather filter.  The filter keeps out dust and insects.  A baffle creates external pressure to pull air out of the attic.

A single or multi-pitch ridge vent is a one-piece rounded unit that should be installed over all of the pitches on a roof.  This includes garage roofs and other parts of a home or building designed with several roof levels.  It is usually fabricated from copolymer resins and other materials for flexibility.

Ventilation system

Your roof protects your home, but it needs ventilation to prevent mold, fungus, and mildew from moving into the attic crawl space and area under the eaves.  Warm moist air can also lead to wood rot, often caused by a fungus that grows in dark, damp spaces.  Soffits and vents under the eaves work with the ridge vents to keep air moving.  Warm, moist air may come in under the roof.  Since heat rises, it will be pulled out through the ridge vent. You may also have a fan system or simply allow this passive arrangement of vents to keep your roof and attic dry.  Proper insulation will keep the attic air, hot or cold, out of your home.

Why is the Ridge Vent Important for Your Roof?

There are plenty of benefits that you can get by having a ridge vent installed in your roof.

  • Balances the temperature of the home.  No matter how strong your air conditioner is, the attic and upstairs will always be hotter during the summer months.  The ridge vent allows the heat to escape out of the attic, so that your air conditioner will not have to work too hard.

  • Protects the shingles from excessive heat during the summer.  The heat coming from the attic can bake the shingles and cause them to wrinkle and prematurely age, but the vent can help prevent this from happening.

  • Improves energy efficiency of the home.  This type of ventilation does not consume electricity and will work well on its own, requiring little to no maintenance. It also reduces the workload on your HVAC system and lessens your energy costs.

  • Prolongs the lifespan of your roofing system.  By keeping the attic cool and dry at all times, the ridge vent helps to prevent mold and mildew.  In addition, it helps maintain the roof’s good condition.

  • The importance of proper attic ventilation isn’t open to debate.  It’s key to roof longevity and preventing premature asphalt shingle curling and ice damming.  To regulate attic climate, you need to have enough attic intake and exhaust vents of sufficient size.  Any inadequacy and excess could affect the way your roof prevents itself from becoming too warm all year round.

    Ridge Vents Are More Efficient

    The very location of the ridge vent makes it a natural escape route for warm air rising from below.  It works similarly to a chimney.  Since it covers the entire roofline, it can vent hot air to the outside more efficiently.  You can’t say the same about gable vents that provide only an exit from two specific points.

    Ridge Vents Work Even When Covered With Snow

    It’s not uncommon for ridge vents to be covered by snow in colder climates, but such blockage won’t keep them from doing their job properly.  The fact that hot air constantly works its way up to the peak of the roof will cause the snow to melt slowly.  With adequate soffit venting, roof planes remain cold enough to prevent ice damming.

    But in the event that you have an ice-encrusted roof ridge resulting to lack of attic ventilation, call in a professional.