Mixing Roof Ventilation Types

Ironically sometimes the desire to mix types of attic exhaust vents seems reasonable on the surface.

Mixing roof ventilation types.

Mixing or combining two or more different types of exhaust vents ridge vents wind turbines roof louvers gable louvers roof mount power fans and gable mount power fans on the same roof above a common attic can actually short circuit the attic ventilation system. Roof vents for houses can have moving parts or not. But more is only better in this case if it s more of the same type. Moreover they can come in different shapes sizes colors and materials.

The answer is not a simple yes or no so let us say perhaps the determining factor has as much to do with the layout of the attic space as with the roof s design. Thus adding more vents even if they are different types seems logical. Vent roofs with steeples towers or cupolas can be found in different buildings from barns to cathedrals. Ridge vents power fans traditional electric and solar powered wind turbines gable louvers and roof louvers.

In general there are five types or categories of exhaust vents. Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves allow cool. Soffit vents are made of aluminum or vinyl and are one of the most popular intake vents. These vents are installed in the soffit the enclosed portion under the roof overhang and permit air to flow up under the roof and into the attic.

When installed as part of a properly balanced when installed as part of a properly balanced attic ventilation system gaf cobra exhaust vent is a shingle over exhaust vent installed at the roof ridge that helps exhaust excess heat and moisture from your attic. The homeowner or the roofing contractor wants to improve the flow of air. They range in style from 6 inch round stainless steel vent covers that are placed in the soffit between each rafter to continuous vents that run the entire length of the soffit. These vents are available in various types and styles and soffits are easy to install under the roof s overhang which is known as the soffit.

The idea of roof vents existed for hundreds of years with natural vents employed in chinese buildings during the tang dynasty natural ventilation ducts in the buddhist monks caves and wind catchers incorporated in arabian architecture. As a general rule you don t want to combine two or more different types of exhaust vents ridge vents wind turbines low profile vents roof and gable mounted power fans on the same roof above a common attic. As a result the choice of which roof vent style is best for you is really a. The ravc recommends never mixing two types of exhaust vents on the same roof above a common attic because it could short circuit the attic ventilation system.

Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents. As you can see each of the above types of roof vents offers a slightly varied approach to the problem of heat and moisture in your house.