Roof Vents

Written by No Doubt Marketing

A roof vent is a vital part of your home's structure, and one you probably haven't given much thought to. Roof vents allow ventilation and air circulation between your home's roof and the interior ceiling structure. This is necessary, because without it the moisture that can build up because of temperature changes can cause problems like mold and other fungi, as well as ice problems in the wintertime. And lack of ventilation from inadequate or missing roof venting can mean that your air conditioning will have to work harder to cool your home.

Inadequate roof venting, because of the moisture problems it can cause, can even cause structural damage to your home's roof. Fortunately, it's rare that you'll find a home that doesn't have one or more roof vents. And if you're concerned about your home's ventilation you can purchase and install a new roof vent, as well.

There are two general kinds of roof venting: active and passive. Active roof venting involves a powered device, like a whole house fan or a ventilator that moves air through a powered means. Most homes have the other kind of system which is a passive vent. This type of roof vent doesn't need electricity, and includes the standard metal pot vent and ridged vent panels you can clearly see near the roof.

Another type of roof vent that's passive but moves air much in the way an active vent does is a turbine roof vent. These are easily recognizable passive roof venting devices because instead of being mounted on the soffit like a regular metal vent, these are mounted on the roof itself and stand up off of it. They consist of a round turbine mounted on top of a cylinder. The turbine spins in the wind and acts as a suction fan drawing air up from the attic.

You can actually purchase turbine roof vents that are active vents that are powdered and spin due to electricity, but most turbine vents are passive and rely on wind to work. These vents stand between 15 and 20 inches, and the turbine is covered with fins that catch the wind, causing it to spin. As the turbine spins, it pulls air from the attic, dropping the temperature since warm air rises and is the first to be sucked out.

Though small, a turbine roof vent can move hundreds of cubic feet of air per minute with wind only moving a few miles per hour. And because of the placement of these roof vents, they will allow warm air to escape in still air because heat rises and would naturally drift up and out the vent. Turbine roof vents are ideal in almost any situation, and because the average cost is only about $50 they're economical. They can be sealed to the roof for added security with metal braces, which are wise in windy areas. The bearings that allow them to spin are sealed, so after less than a half an hour installation a turbine roof vent will last for years.

Ready to find roof vent for your home? Use BuyerZone's free request for roof vent price quotes, and we'll match you to multiple contractors in your area.