As HomeAdvisor explains, a roof turbine is a wind-powered exhaust vent that helps to tug unwanted heat and moisture from the attic space. When the wind blows, it spins, pulling air out of the attic. In doing so, it helps to reduce the risk of wood rot, mold, and mildew.
It's called a Whirlybird, also known as turbine vent, is a very common type of roof vent that is used on houses for ventilation purposes. It is a wind-powered ventilation system that cools our homes and is notable for their distinctive bulb-shaped form with fins on the outside.
If your home is in an area with infrequent wind, turbine vents might not be the best choice. Prone to Damage: Being outdoor installations, whirlybirds are exposed to various weather conditions. They can be damaged by hail, strong winds, or even rust over time.
Definitely do no cover the turbines. The attic needs as much if not more venting in winter than in summer. I noticed you also have a whole house fan, which shouldn't be used in winter. Now if you were talking about a whole house roof vent (powered), they work off temp.
Turbine vents are a fairly poor choice; the ventilation you get is proportional to the current wind speed, which has little to no correlation to when ventilation might actually do something useful.
The most common cause of leaks at a turbine vent is the base flashing—your flashing may have physical damage, which could allow water to leak underneath the vent. If you don't notice any visible damage, a bearing may have gone bad, causing your turbine to spin off balance and allowing rain to leak inside the house.
The average cost for a roof turbine is $20 to $100 per unit and $65 to $250, including labor and materials.
The design of the fins is such that it spins when there is wind, regardless of the direction the wind is coming from. It is this spin that drives the internal turbine, but it also prevents water from getting in through the gaps in the fins. Any water that lands on the vent will be immediately spun off by the rotation.
Heat Loss: Since whirlybirds continuously ventilate, they can lead to heat loss during winter, making your home colder. Wind Dependency: Because they operate using wind power, your whirlybird will likely be running when you don't need it to; during cold, wet and windy weather.
What Is a Roof Turbine? As HomeAdvisor explains, a roof turbine is a wind-powered exhaust vent that helps to tug unwanted heat and moisture from the attic space. When the wind blows, it spins, pulling air out of the attic. In doing so, it helps to reduce the risk of wood rot, mold, and mildew.
The Cost to Install a Whirlybird
The price of the whirlybird itself can range from $100 to $200, while the installation labour cost can range between $350 to $400. Double Storey House: For a double storey house, the cost of installing a whirlybird is a little higher, ranging from $550 to $750.
A good quality, modern wind turbine will generally last for 20 years, although this can be extended to 25 years or longer depending on environmental factors and the correct maintenance procedures being followed. However, the maintenance costs will increase as the structure ages.
Many people worry that whirlybirds will leak in the rain. This is a misconception as the design prevents rain from getting in. What you should be concerned about is the debris that can get caught in the turbines. Because of the open design, it is possible for dust and leave to get stuck in the turbines.
Those are turbines (also known as whirlybird vent), a type of roof vent that provides a valuable service no homeowner should overlook. Here's what to know! While a turbine looks a little complex at first glance, it's actually very simple. Much like a window, this round vent is powered by the wind.
Turbine roof vents are designed to harness the power of the wind to create airflow within the attic. As the wind blows, it causes the turbines to spin, drawing warm, moist air out of the attic and replacing it with cooler, drier air from the outside.
Standard residential whirlybirds have an average life span of between 10 and 15 years (the CSR Edmonds Windmaster Whirlybirds we install come with a 15 year parts warranty).
Solar Vents
A solar vent uses solar power to cool your home. It contains small solar panels which power an exhaust fan inside the frame. It does the same job as a whirlybird, but is more effective.
They're also not the most durable option, because they're prone to rust and can be damaged by severe weather. But by far the most convincing argument to consider other forms of ventilation is that whirlybirds are inherently inefficient when in comparison to other ventilators.
Covering these vents can trap moisture in the attic, leading to various problems, including mold growth and damage to the home's structural components. A proper roof ventilation is vital to prevent mold, mildew, frost accumulation, wood rot, ice dams, and damage to shingles.
When reviewing turbine vent options, remember that they are very visible: If you want your vents to have a low profile, you may prefer ridge vents. Lubrication and high quality materials are also important – depending on the climate, poor-quality turbines may rust or dry out, developing intolerable squeaks and groans.
Whirlybird® turbine vents should be located near the peak of the roof on the rear slope, exposed to the wind from all directions.
While you may be tempted to do it yourself, the safest way to go is to hire a local roofing company to do the job. Roofers have the training, licensing, and experience needed to install a ventilation system on your roof, without putting you at risk of leaks.
Roof Turbine Vent
Also called whirlybird roof vents, turbine vents are clever in their design and execution. Produced by manufacturers like Lomanco and Air Vent, these vents spin on a ball bearing system, creating negative pressure that sucks hot air and moisture up and out of the attic.
Turbine roof vents
As long as it's installed correctly, it'll move the air in your attic around 10-12 times per hour. For a 1,500 square foot attic, you'll need 2 standard 12” turbine roof vents for proper ventilation.