Attic Ridge Vent Effectiveness

Continuous ridge vents are more effective because they are installed at the peak of a roof s ridge allowing for warm air to escape from the attic.

Attic ridge vent effectiveness.

Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents. Attic ventilation fans whether hard wired or powered by their own solar panels seem like a low cost and effective way to help keep your house cool. A ridge vent runs across the top of the roof s peak. One of the great things about a ridge vent is that it is at the topmost point of your roof with hot air constantly rising it is bound to make it way out of the top of your vents thus bringing in cooler air through your soffit vents and into your roof cooling it down.

The majority of roofing experts agree that ridge vents are the most effective and cost effective roof vents available. Roof ridge vents do work well when there are soffit vents or box vents that help to draw air into the attic. The uniform building code requires that the amount of venting area in the attic be equal to 1 150 of the area of the floor and in most circumstances it allows a ratio of 1 300 if the venting area. Figure courtesy of air vent inc.

Without baffles blinders that prevent outside air from crossing over the vent a ridge vent may create almost no ventilation at all. You will also discover that this product can work by itself to release moisture from the house which is especially useful during the winter months. A ridge vent installed along a roof s peak will move hot and humid air up and out of the attic. Gable vents may circulate air through only a small percentage of your attic.

It also works better because it creates a vacuum. Figure 5 ridge vent vs. Or worse the exhaust vents could lead to warm moist air from the house s interior being pulled into the attic which could be problematic. Since there isn t any provision for the intake of air the ridge vent is basically ineffective.

Hvi recommends a ratio of 60 to 40 for soffit ventilation to gable or ridge ventilation. Danh says ridge vents remain effective in winter because winds generally clear the ridge within a few days of even a heavy snow and because warm air working its way up through the attic will melt snow covering the vent. A ridge vent is similar to a screen and allows heat to escape up and out of the attic. Unlike turbines this venting style does not have any moving parts.

The downside of attic ventilation fans.