The Types and Styles of Roof Vents

August 15, 2022

Proper ventilation in your attic and roof helps balance excess heat and moisture that can otherwise destroy your home's indoor comfort. Moisture buildup due to heat in an attic can create predictable but various problems in hot and cold climates. Summers and cold winters can suffer both effects without proper ventilation.

Because of its benefits, every establishment and house you pass by possesses roof vents. Roof vents form the central part of your attic ventilation system. They let your attic breathe and help protect your roof system from damaging heat and moisture.

Installing roof vents will usually require convenient access to your roof, such as attic hatch doors, so make sure you also have these installed. If you're having difficulty choosing what type of roof vent is best suited for your establishment, here's a list to help you make the right decision.

Types of Ventilation Systems

There are two types of attic ventilation systems, active and passive. Active ventilation draws the air in from the outside and pushes it out inside. Passive ventilation carries the air around the attic through natural sources, such as wind.

Both ventilation systems do their job, and both perform well when installed adequately. But if your technician did not install the vents properly, it can lead to difficulties.

Types of Active Roof Vents

Turbine Vents

Turbine vents are also known as whirly birds. It functions by using a drawing effect through convection to carry the air in your attic, even without wind. As long as professionals install this vent properly, the air in your attic will move around 10-12 times hourly.

Because of the turbine vent's slats, it creates an open-aired area in the attic. There is a misunderstanding that rain, snow, and insects can enter your establishment through them. However, experts designed this vent so that none of this occurs unless it is damaged.

Power Vents

Power vents are circular-shaped vents with low profiles you see on most roofs. They're installed near the roof ridge and use electricity to gather the humid air from the attic. During the winter, you'll want to operate your power vents with a humidistat.

If not, the humidity will increase in your attic, cause condensation, and shorten your roof's lifespan. Be aware that power vent motors tend to wear and tear, so be prepared to replace them at some point.

Solar-Powered Vents

These vents are your best option from an energy saver standpoint, but the vent shuts down when the solar-powered battery is charging.

The only catch is that the solar panel vents don't have the energy capacity to function the entire day. Therefore, while the battery is recharging, your air conditioner may need to perform more, which will cause your energy bill to go up.

Passive Roof Vents

Static Vents

Static vents look like little boxes on your roof, also known as box vents or turtle vents. They function by letting the heat escape from the roof through convection. This means if the temperature in your attic increases, the hot air is carried out through the vents.

Ridge Vents Without Baffle

Like the active version of this roof vent, it's cut into the ridge and runs the entire ridge length. The only difference between active ridge vents and passive is that the baffle is not present. Baffles are chutes that allow an area for air to flow.

The problem with ridge vents without a baffle is that it allows debris, rain, snow, insects, and others to enter your attic.

Gable End Vents

A gable end vent is a wooden vent. Professionals install this on the exterior wall of your attic, where the two slopes of your roof meet. This vent relies on the wind from outside to move the air in and out of your attic.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right roof vent may be a difficult decision. If you are still unsure, you can always seek advice from your roof contractor on what roof vent will suit your establishment. Ensure that your chosen roof vent will also fit your budget.