Power Attic Fans And Ridge Vents

While a simple vent is sometimes used to allow for the passive flow of air it s also possible to add a powered attic fan commonly called an attic power ventilator.

Power attic fans and ridge vents. Combining an attic power vent fan with a ridge vent is usually not recommended because. Attic ventilation fans also tend to be quite energy efficient in terms of their own operation. Installation of this type of attic ventilation involves leaving a gap in the sheathing along the ridge and covering it with a perforated vent. Read on to find out more.

Today s homeowner serves cookies to analyze traffic and better serve you. This is different from soffit vents which allow air to travel into the attic. Adding roof ridge vents can reduce summer air conditioning costs prevent roof mildew and rot and keep your roof in better shape longer. If air is drawn in through the ridge vent while it s raining it might pull rainwater in with it which could lead to leaking or mold in the attic.

When the power vent goes on it can actually pull air from the ridge vent which can cause an imbalance of airflow along the underside of the roof deck. Having both a power vent and ridge vent installed on your roof can short circuit the attic ventilation system. Both also require other vents that bring air into the attic from outside to replace the volume being expelled. Ridge vents are a passive system simply allowing hot air to rise up through them rather than pushing it out as a fan does.

It could reverse the natural flow of hot air out the ridge vent. Like attic fans ridge vents are designed to exhaust air that is already inside the attic. Purchasing an electric or solar attic fan may not provide the savings that homeowners expect. A roofer installs a ridge vent.

Both attic fans and roof vents offer a means of exhausting stale air. Attic power ventilators are mounted to the roof of the home and are connected electronically to a power source and in most cases the home s thermostat. Even if your roof already has ridge vents and plenty of ventilation built in it s a good idea to install gable fans or roof fans to help blow hot humid air out of the attic. Effective attic ventilation systems reduce damaging heat and moisture in your attic promote energy efficiency by helping to reduce the load on your air conditioner in the summer and also reduce the risk of ice dam formation on your roof.

Should we remove one combining an attic vent fan with a ridge vent is not recommended since it can reverse the natural flow of hot air in the attic.