The 6 Best Types of Roof Vents & Their Benefits
Ventilation is something that most homeowners don’t really care about. After all, as long as there are some vents on your roof, your house will be properly ventilated, right? Even though we’ve heard this numerous times, it’s far from the truth. There are several types of roof vents, and with each house being unique, there’s a chance that yours isn’t well-ventilated.
One of the most common questions we get is what type of roof vents are the best in Southern California. Truth be told, there are a few roof vents, like the roof ridge vent, which are considered the best nationwide. That being said, choosing the right one for your house will determine how long it will last and how well air will flow beneath it.
So, today, we’ll take a closer look at the best types of roof vents you can get, focusing primarily on why they stand out. Plus, we’ll take a small down memory lane to see how ventilation works and why it is necessary.
Why Does Your House Need Ventilation
One of the things we all learned in Physics class was ventilation and airflow. Basically, the hotter the air is, the higher it’ll go. In other words, the hottest air in your house will be located right underneath your roof (the attic).
If the air isn’t well circulated and it stays up there for too long, it can lead to moisture buildup, emit musty smells, and, eventually, rot any wooden parts of your attic.
That’s precisely why you need a good ventilation system. Yes, having a simple roof dryer vent with a metal roof vent cap won’t do the trick. Let’s see why this is the case by discussing why exhaust and intake vents are must-haves
Exhaust Vents
Every roof in SoCal (and the entirety of the US) will have some form of exhaust vent. This might be a whirlybird, a roof ridge vent, or a powered one. These are specifically present on a roof to ensure that the hot air (located at the top of the attic) can escape toward the outside. That’s also why most of these are placed at the roof’s peak.
Intake Vents
On the other hand, intake vents are utilized to bring fresh air inside the house. In turn, when combined with exhaust, the colder air “pushes” the hotter one higher, forcing it to leave the attic.
Both types of vents come in active and passive forms. The active ones force hot air outward, while the passive ones allow this to happen naturally in the form of convection. This is why you should have a proper ventilation system, especially if you want to avoid facing roofing problems.
What Type Of Roof Vents Are The Best
Now that you have a better idea of why ventilation is important let’s actually find out which roof vent you should opt for.
Wind Turbine Vents
Starting with our beloved exhaust vents, we have the wind turbine or whirlybird. These are one of the oldest and most commonly used types of roof vents that look like a chef’s hat. Like chefs, they can be stubborn, as they’ll need about 5-6 mph winds to get started.
But, as long as you live in an area where there’s a constant breeze, you’ll be fine. And you’ll get all their benefits. For one, they require very little maintenance, as you’ll only have to lube them occasionally. Plus, they don’t use electricity, so you won’t see any fluctuation in your energy bill.
Solar Roof Vents
Similarly to whirlybirds, solar roof vents are of the active type. And they won’t increase your electricity bills, as they come with a solar panel that keeps them going. We generally recommend these over their electricity-powered counterparts since the latter come with hefty utility bill increases.
Roof Dryer Vent
Then again, we believe that nothing can beat a good old roof dryer vent. These mailbox-like structures can be placed right below the roof ridge, making them very versatile. But remember to add a mesh cover or a roof vent cap to prevent critters from entering your house.
Roof Ridge Vent
If you have a large open gable roof with one big ridge going across it, there’s no better option than a roof ridge vent. You can add a baffle to it, which will turn it from a passive vent to an active one. Because of their larger size, these allow much more air to leave, thus achieving optimal ventilation.
Soffit Vents
To complete your ventilation system, you’ll need an intake vent. And there’s no better way to do so than with a soffit vent. Whether you opt for several smaller metal roof vents or a cohesive vent under your overhang, these will work perfectly – out with the old air and in with the new, fresh one.
There are no better intake, low-profile roof vents than this one. If you can’t add one because of your house’s architecture, a drip-edge alternative would suffice.
Roofing Services Done The Wise Way
Roof vents are one of the roof parts that nobody gives enough credit to. But, without these, your roof wouldn’t last as long as expected, and you’d have to splurge a lot of money on roofing repair services. If you want to learn whether your roof is properly ventilated, you’ll need to call up a professional roofing contractor. And, if you’re in SoCal, you need not look further than us!
At Roofing Wise, we pride ourselves on providing the best roofing services in our beautiful Southern California. Call us now at (833) 315-7663 for a free estimate.