Different Types of Roofing Ventilation
For the best roofing system, ventilation is a key factor. It’s what permits the structure to breathe warranting proper airflow and avoiding humidity damage during the hotter months. Airing also prevents the roof from drying out during summer.
Roof vents are also called attic vents; these vents guarantee there is a good quantity of airflow and airing in your attic. The general reason why making roof vents is to keep cool in the summer and dry during the cooler months. Encouraging natural airflow makes your home more comfortable by providing a way for hot, moist, or stale air to leave the house. Passive ventilation known as attic ventilation is important in both hot and cold climates.
Airless or poorly ventilated attics don’t have an escape route for the hotness that builds up. This accumulation of temperature might eventually harm your roof from the inside out. Continuous edge vents are more effective because they are linked at the top of a roof’s edge, permitting trapped warm air to escape from the attic. It also works better because it allows external moving creating a vacuum when the breeze blows over the top of the roof.
How Roof Ventilation Works?
The roof design should provide sufficient air space for insulation and air flow under the roof and attics. And, a well-designed system will balance the intake and exhaust ventilation under the roof so that the attic is slightly hassled, preventing conditioned air from being sucked out too quickly through the vents.
Airing only works when air flows. There are two main methods to create air flow within an attic:
- Mechanical. This one will require a power source.
- Natural. Most of the times, natural roof ventilation is used. The heap effect and the wind effect work together to naturally circulate air.
The stack effect happens when hot air increases and creates a higher pressure at high points in the roof. The warm air that escapes is identified as exhaust. However, this hot air can’t outflow without an inlet for cooler, low-pressure air. The fresh air that goes in is referred to as intake. The mostly common type of Roof vents are:
Exhaust Vents
Breeze turbines are also usually called whirlybirds. These are one of the oldest types of roof vents existing. You might recognize the wind turbine from older homes or even your youthful homes. Maybe your home now has one.
Power Vents
These types of roof vents work on electrical power. They are frequently referred to as electric-powered attic vents. These mechanical escapes can be located on your roof or your gable. On top of that, the roof power vents are primarily low-profile. They usually are slight and circular and set close to your roof. There are 2 core types of powered vents – hardwired models and solar-powered models.
Hardwired Power Roof Vents
The most common power roof vent is a hardwired power roof vent. If you make the decision to use a roof vent that is not solar-powered, this is what you will be using. This kind of rooftop vent is wired into your house and usually it is attached to a thermostat to operate the vent. Nevertheless, they might also be functioned by a manual switch instead.
Solar-Powered Roof Vents
Now days this is a very popular, roof ventilation system, the solar-powered roof vents are rather different from hardwired roof vents because they are powered by solar power. These roof vents have a solar panel attached to the base, and they are finally powered by the sun’s rays charging the panel.
Box Vents
Box vents are very popular and a well-known vent option. You most likely have seen that small box sitting on a roof, sometimes you can possibly see a roof with several on it. When it comes down to it, the most recommended vents are either ridge vents or box vents.
Box vents are combined most of the time with soffit ventilation methods for optimal performance. These kinds of roof vents do not use electricity. They work best with open attics. The way the vent works is the wind flows through and combined with the soffit, the vent pulls wetness and hot air out of the attic.
Final Thoughts from the Bloomingdale Roofing Inspection Team
We can say based on these different types of roof ventilation systems that your roof ventilation should be examined along with your roof at least twice a year. You should look for anything that may be blocking the vent, such as plants and other debris. It’s a good idea to examine the inside of the attic or roof surface for damage from humidity. And, it is also very important to be sure to inspect your attic insulation to see that it is in good condition and properly placed so your home is well-insulated against outdoor temperature changes.