Are you dealing with high electric bills? Your home might be hotter than usual because of poor attic ventilation. This is a critical element of any house or building. Attic ventilation makes sure your house has room to breathe. The ventilation pulls fresh air through your attic. It also lets heat escape from the structure.
A responsible homeowner should ensure their attic gets the care it deserves. After all, the right ventilation will provide you with many benefits.
One of these benefits is savings. You’ll be able to save on energy consumption. Cooling and heating accounts for more than half of the energy used in your home. It will be higher if you don’t have attic ventilation. The temperature in your attic can reach 140 degrees or higher on a scorching summer day. This hot unventilated air will move down. This means your living spaces will become hotter. Your AC units and fans will be working harder to keep temperatures at a comfortable level. But good attic ventilation will mean warm air is then pushed out.
You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to attic ventilation. There are two main types though. You can choose between an active or passive system. The former pulls air in from outside. It then pushes it out from the inside. The passive ventilation system means natural sources will move the air.
There’s quite a variety of vents to choose from. But which should you go for? This article will break down the different types of attic ventilation. You can make a better decision then.
Ridge Vents
Ridge vents are one of the most popular types of attic ventilation. We refer to the roof’s peak as a ridge. It’s where two roof areas converge. It’s also where this exhaust vent is often placed. Ridge vents can run the entire length of the roof’s ridge. This allows them to release high volumes of hot air coming from inside the structure.
You can also go with off-ridge vents. These are always installed below where the roof crests. They’re best on roofs that are shorter and don’t have extensive ridge lines. But off-ridge vents aren’t as effective as ridge vents in getting rid of hot air.
Box Vents
Box or louver vents are also a popular choice. As the name implies, these vents have a square shape. They are smaller in size so they release less hot air. You can get around that by installing many box vents on your roof. Box vents are also versatile. They can become placed on complicated roof structures. They’re also ideal in small areas that do not allow for ridge vents.
Roof Turbines
Have you ever noticed something that looks like a chef’s hat on a roof? These are roof turbines. They’re shaped like a toque and rotate. It has fins that catch the wind. The turbine has a fan inside that starts spinning when the wind hits five to six miles an hour. The action pulls the air up and out of the house. This is a good ventilation system for areas with strong wind.
Soffit Vents
Soffit vents are often located at the bottom of the eaves. Through the entire length of the roof’s edge, one can install these vents. They’re sometimes placed five to six feet apart. These are intake vents. They take in air through the roof to ensure proper airflow. They have a simple but effective design. They’re also very affordable, which is why they’re a favorite among builders.
Fascia and Drip Edge Vents
Drip edge and fascia vents are two alternatives to soffit vents. They’re also as effective. Fascia vents are often installed on the fascia boards of the roof. These vents have holes on their side edges. This allows the air to go into the roof. Drip edge vent installation is like drip edges. They also have holes that push air inside the structure.
Best Value for Your Money
A Affordable Insulators will make sure you get value for your money. Our company is one of the best full-service attic insulation firms in Houston. We do residential and commercial insulation jobs. Our specialty lies in attic insulation and ventilation. We also install attic vents, solar vents, and soffits. We also do various attic insulations, like fiberglass and loose-fill. We care about you and our environment. It’s why we are Green Guard Certified. Give us a call at 832-243-7484 and ask for a free estimate. You can also send us a message here.
