Cons Most effective when used with a ridge vent Homeowner tend to cover them with insulation, which blocks the airflow I have a cross-gable roof. Had a furnace guy come out, he said we must have a vacuum issue. I have FOUR dormers mid-level of the attic, and a large fan, not used, with about a 3 ft by 2 ft area at end of attic that is positioned to move air out of the home. Id still recommend leaving a gap at the bottom of the install and at the peak of the roof, but even without ventilation, you will see a measurable drop in surface temps. When it reaches its dew point it will change from vapor to condensation. They ended up using batts to insulate my rafters. So now the remaining attic only has a single gable vent with no intake. We cant add baffles as there are no soffit gables. Even though ventilation is a must, there is one more thing that is going to keep your home protected and get your attics ventilation functioning at peak performance: insulation. Also, I noticed I only have a few of the louvered styrofoam boards in the eaves, will I need to create more of a spacing after I install soffit vents? Moisture is mold's breading ground and the cause of roof rot and poor air quality. Take a look at this article I wrote about the basics of attic venting and see if that doesnt clear up some of the confusion: Attic Ventilation 101. So, if your attic is 20' x 40' then the area is 800 square feet. From this position, air enters the attic through the intake vents. For example, you can use ridge vents, mushroom cap vents, upper gable end vents/fans, high mounted attic fans, etc. Greatly appreciate any thoughts. Essentially bring air through the high interior ceiling and pass it through the attic with gable vent outtake? feet. Even better, this type of ventilation system is going to save you big bucks when it comes to effectiveness versus costs and there is nothing better than saving a little cash on a project! Get help with your home improvement projects. Also, leave the ridge vent exposed and leave about a foot uncovered (no barrier or board) the whole length of the roof where the roof meets the soffit so air can circulate between the rafters. If your attic is warm and warms the bottom of a cold roofline, you can create condensation with the right conditions so I would caution you against this. Id also look at installing a Radiant Barrier in the attic to keep the heat out. Should we put in passive gable vents instead of the fans? It is able to conform more easily than batt insulation and thus, can get into areas that other types of insulation normally could not. Should I force external air in one and try to suck it out the other end? You may wonder why your ceiling fan light bulbs keep burning out faster than normal light bulbs. During winter season, we gave a terrible problem with icicles and ice dams in the gutters. That condensation needs to be vented in order to remove the condensation. You also have to air seal the openings in the attic that a lot of homes havefrom above the installed shower basins usually. Without proper ventilation, the temperature in the attic can reach unhealthy levels, which can quickly lead to problems. I have a new 10 x 20 She-Shed ready for insulation. I asked a lot of questions and I was never actually shown if my house HAS any soffit vents! However, without soffit vents, that makeup air comes from indoors, a situation that is not desirable in any season. The keyword here is regularly. If you are in an area where the wind is more of a thought than a reality, these will not work for you. Many people who think about installing gable vents slightly cringe at the thought of them. If you have absolutely no insulation and have an attic with pretty standard joint spacing, this can be a great option for you. I ran into an excessive amount of ice damming this year with my property. I understand that this is an old post and I hope you can help me. Why Ceiling Fan Light Bulbs Keep Burning Out: 8 Reasons. If you have a finished attic or an attic space that you are planning on finishing, then wall gable vents and roof vents aren't the best option. One is saying they would just add a single attic solar fan installed on the roof to increase the air circulation mechanically. Move the flex tubing (from bathroom fan) to exit via a new hole a few feet below the existing gable vent. A ridge vents works by drawing air upward and out of the attic space. Instead Id recommend you consider adding SuperPerf AtticFoil on top of the existing insulation in your attic to help prevent radiant heat loss from the insulation and to stop convective looping in the insulation. Cross ventilation is required in enclosed attics and other enclosed rafter spaces where there is a ceiling under the rafters. https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IRC2018P7/chapter-8-roof-ceiling-construction. So we did. Our house is a Garrison Colonial (post WWII style) with NO soffits. settled rock wall insulation and need to add insulation. Achieve ventilation through ridge vents and roof soffits. There are several different styles/brands. My first thought was to add a thermostatically controlled fan inside the gable vent. No machinery is required for installation and it can be done quickly and easily without too much fuss. The new ridge vent contributes to attic depressurization, and the result is that more conditioned air is pulled through the ceiling leaks, raising your energy bills. This will allow air to come in under the edge of the shingles, and then enter the attic via a small slot/cut that is about 8 from the edge. I have a 1950s cape cod. Do not block attic vents in winter. (there are other brands/models) If you have a gable roof, Id use a ridge vent. So across from each other on one run, and across from each other on the other run. 50 Pint vs 70 Pint Dehumidifier: Which Is Best? With the right wind speed, they do a fantastic job getting fresh air in and letting warm air out. The air flows through the rafter vents to the peak of the roof. Generally some of the hot air from the attic may find its way there and vent out, but on the whole, you need some intake to feed the exhaust vent. link to Why Ceiling Fan Light Bulbs Keep Burning Out: 8 Reasons, link to Variable Speed Air Handler Pros and Cons, How Attic Insulation can Affect Ventilation, How to Insulate Your Attic to Ensure Effective Attic Ventilation, 4. Tom can help. There are other reasons a homeowner would want to install soffit vents. Use this guide to learn why you need attic venting and how to improve it. There are two gable vents but they are obstructed by a chimney. See what I mean here? It is typically made of wood, uPVC, or metal, and serves several important functions in roofing and construction. Also does the roofer has to provide you with the exact calculation of the ventilation needed? If there is plenty of soffit venting and if you have a relatively tight ceiling, then the makeup air will come from outside, which is desirable, summer and winter. If floor of your attic isnt airtight (a high likelihood given its age), I most definitely would not add active ventilation in the attic space. A roofer came by and suggested we put in ridge vents along entire attic which we did. Plus, roofing and attic ventilation systems can protect homes from the expensive roof and structural damage caused by trapped heat, ice dams, moisture and mold. There are no soffits and no way to add soffit vents. Does this make sense and do you have any suggestions that would help? Even more, it is going to do a more effective job at insulating those spaces. from the roof's peak. I want to improve the ventilation in our attic, but am afraid of messing up a good thing. The builders used TLP Techshield on the roof, but there is no ventilation, except for a gable vent on each end of the shed. Its possible! To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Our attic had a big mold problem that was just remediated. One wants to add the ridge vent. . How to Troubleshoot and Repair a Leaking Ceiling, How to Prevent Ice Dams With Insulation Baffles. Learn more here. ft. of airflow per 150 sq. Solution: Install air chutes or clear them if they're clogged (Photo 1). Were trying to decide what to do with the gable fans. BEST FOR GABLE . The standard intake vent for attics is a soffit vent (also sometimes referred to as an eave vent) and it allows for air to enter the attic down low, near the eaves. Beware of adding a ridge vent without soffit vents (the worst) or soffit vents without a ridge vent (bad) or only gable-end vents (usually bad). The gable vents are at the lowest portion of the attic. Noticed I do NOT have vented soffits and now I have drastic mold growth in the attic. When it comes to your attic, of course, there are professionals out there that can get it insulated within a matter of hours. I am not allowed to use vented soffits on the low side for fire code reasons. I would discourage you from adding a fan to the section with the gable (never a good plan to mix passive and active vents in the same space) maybe just add another small vent in the same area. Problem 2: Aluminum or vinyl soffits (eaves) installed over plywood soffits that don't have venting holes. Even new homes often don't have adequate ventilation!! If youre willing to commit to this, this page shows you the best and easiest way to do it right: Insulating a cathedral ceiling for maximum comfort year-round. If youre looking to keep things cooler in the She-Shed, you need to consider sealing it up air tight and using some A/C too. Roof vents need to conform to International Residential Code (IRC)R802.7, which specifies the size and type of the openings. Original design had an attic above the ceiling; attic was ventilated with passive gable vents on each end. If it will be the fan, then the gables should be closed and you need to add soffit venting. These vents have a long, thin appearance, that is made to blend in with the surrounding shingles. Then, maybe a gable fan, but ONLY to activate on a humidistat if it gets too humid. We have 3 roof vents, 2 gable vents, a roof fan and a ridge vent. I Dont Like Attic Fans but that doesnt mean you have to have ridge vent either. Not interested in making a masterpiece of an old attic! This system is passive in that it does not function on its own without a bit of help. After assessing my attic space I noticed I have 5-6 soffit vents at the bottom of the attic however with the way the space was sectioned off between the 4 units I dont have any access to the ridge vent up top. I need help! We waited another year and then added insulation from R7 to R38. Formerly I had 3 dormer vents with the gable vent. If the home has soffit intake vents, then they will typically be individual vents that are spaced with one every few feet, or the home may have a continuous perforated soffit that runs the entire length of the eave. Most people have plenty of exhaust vents but not nearly enough *intake* vents. It may also benefit the interior space removing the heat up high. Soffits may be perforated or vented to help air circulate through your attic space. ft. of ventilation area Convert sq. How Much Cooler Can My Attic Be After Installing a Radiant Barrier? Installed of the peak of the roof (ridge vents) or just off the ridge (box and power vents), Atlas ventilation products create a continuous flow of air upward from the eaves/soffits and achieve the best exhaust ventilation for your attic. . Greebo is spot on, you want soffit vents for your air intake. If this is happening, your ventilation systems will then be working against you as they will pull all that warm air straight out of the attic and into the winter air. This type of vent also works best when there is another vent that is pulling air from the attic, so use it in tandem with a vent on top of the roof. Air enters low and then escapes out of the attic higher up near the peak of the roof, usually via a ridge vent, an attic fan (which we do not recommend), static roof vents, or a high-mounted gable vent/fan. Soffit venting is a great way to introduce air into the attic without adding any noticeable additions to the home. Does this sound correct? A dry, well-ventilated attic prevents mold from developing both inside the attic and in the living areas below. You should have an equal amount of intake and exhaust ventilation, equally about one square foot for every 150 square feet of attic space. Soffit vents are roof ventilation devices installed underneath the eaves of a roof that extend past the warm wall line. I dive into this topic more on this page: Surface Temps vs. Air Temps (Why ventilation cant solve it all). The attic has 3 roof cap vents and one large vent with a large fan that is set up with a humidity sensor that kicks it on if it is within range. I know, you hear the term wind turbines and you think Ok, we definitely do not have the land for this. Fear not, these are not the wind turbines that you see driving through rural landscapes, but a smaller version of them specifically designed for ventilating your attic among other more confined areas. 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