Roof Ridge Vent Vs Attic Fans

Ridge vents are an ideal solution to ventilation in an ideal attic.

Roof ridge vent vs attic fans.

A ridge vent or a solar attic fan. It has the ability to work with vaulted ceilings and you only need one of them to get the job done for ventilation as compared to multiple box vents. Without ventilation unfinished attic spaces can end up having stagnant air. But as anderson sc roofing specialists will tell you there are other factors to consider like existing vents attic and ceiling shape roof pitch and obstructions.

Installation costs roof turbines are usually less expensive to install because they only require the removal of a small section of shingles and an appropriately sized hole to be drill through the roof. Long story short the choice between a ridge vent and a power vent isn t as cut and dried as most homeowners imagine. A ridge vent installed along a roof s peak will move hot and humid air up and out of the attic. Unlike ridge vents attic fans use electricity and need regular maintenance to keep working properly.

Since your solar vent fan only moves 500 cfm a third to half that of a typical hardwired attic vent fan it probably won t move enough air to reverse the action of the ridge vent. If you have suitable intake venting a ridge vent might be a better. Choosing a ridge vent or an attic fan. Continuous ridge vents are more effective because they are installed at the peak of a roof s ridge allowing for warm air to escape from the attic.

Installing roof ridge vents and more attic insulation are better options experts say. Adding roof ridge vents can reduce summer air conditioning costs prevent roof mildew and rot and keep your roof in better shape longer. Which is better for your roof. Purchasing an electric or solar attic fan may not provide the savings that homeowners expect.

It also works better because it creates a vacuum. When you are deciding between a ridge vent or an attic fan consider the needs of the attic. What makes ridge vents so effective is how they run the length of your roof. Without any air movement temperatures in the attic soar in summer and plunge in winter.

Also since the fan is powered by the sun it should turn off when the sky is overcast during a storm which will keep it from drawing rain into the attic. Vents that run along the roof ridge are an alternative to those that exit through the roof decking or gables and if the ridge is long enough they may be the only roof vents. As warm air rises in your attic fresh air is drawn in through soffit vents.