While ridge vents have many advantages, they are not always ideal. In cold climates, ridge vents can allow snow into the attic. They're also more expensive than box vents and won't work on all types of roofs.
Look Out for Flashing
In this case, rain can enter your roof through the vents. As for damage to the vents themselves, old age is a factor. Eventually, certain areas of your roof may be worn down, including the flashing that supports ridge vents. You will likely be unable to predict when your flashing is going to fail.
If the ridge vent is not sized correctly or is inadequately matched with intake vents, it can result in insufficient ventilation. This can cause heat and moisture to build up in the attic, leading to increased energy costs, premature aging of roofing materials, and potential mold and mildew growth.
Ridge vents are better than an attic fan, more uniform air ventilation. You should also get soffit vents so that it doesn't pull conditioned air through the ceiling of your house (light fixtures). It's your money, but that's what is typically recommended.
Since there are vents on the roof, heat can escape the house naturally. It doesn't have to be vented out like a normal house would, which keeps things cool inside. Not only summers, but ridge vent helps in winter also.
While ridge vents have many advantages, they are not always ideal. In cold climates, ridge vents can allow snow into the attic. They're also more expensive than box vents and won't work on all types of roofs.
Today, most experts (and our team at Rhoden Roofing agrees), ridge vents are superior products to box vents. However, as they are more expensive to install than box vents, they still are not the vest fit for every situation. There is also more variety in the types of ridge vents.
Ridge vents work without any power. They're super awesome when paired with soffit vents, creating a cool airflow loop - cool air enters through the soffit vents, and the hot air exits through the ridge vents. Attic fans are a bit different because they actively move hot air out and bring cool air in.
Ridge Vents are popular. They work well because they provide even ventilation across the whole attic. They are installed along the roof's peak, allowing hot air to escape naturally without the need for power.
It is absolutely possible the ventilation system on your roof is excessive. Maybe your home is older and prior ventilation was installed by a homeowner, or incorrect vent sizes were used in an older roof layout. Too much ventilation can negatively influence the attic's and home's insulation as well.
While each type—metal, hard plastic shingle-over, and soft foam shingle-over—has its merits, the hard plastic 4-foot shingle-over ridge vent stands out for its unparalleled air exhaust capabilities, making it an excellent choice for homeowners seeking optimal ventilation performance.
It's important to keep the ridge vent free of obstructions such as leaves, debris, and ice to maintain proper ventilation. If debris buildup is a regular problem, consider trimming back nearby tree branches or hiring a roof cleaning company.
Critters such as bugs and insects are less likely to try to enter a vent that has a steady flow of air pushing out of the vents. Omni series ridge vents effectively keep bugs from entering the attic space.
The ridge vent sections should also overlap by about 1 ½ inches. When a shoddy or inexperienced contractor fails to overlap the pieces or doesn't extend the sections enough, the vents will eventually leak.
The average lifespan of a roof vent is about 10-20 years, but the lifespan of your roof vent will depend on a variety of factors. Some factors that will affect the lifespan of your roof vent include the type of roof vent, the material your roof vent is made from, and the care your roof vent receives.
The short answer to this question is “it depends”. Some form of ventilation is necessary for every roof, and a ridge vent is one of the most common ventilation options. However, depending on your specific roof, one of the other types of roof vents may be a better choice.
Increased Ventilation Capacity
Unlike passive systems like ridge or gable vents that rely on natural heat rise, attic fans forcefully expel hot air. When temperatures soar, these fans can be activated to rapidly cool the attic space, protecting your roof and improving indoor comfort.
Installing a roof ridge vent costs $500 on average, but it can cost between $200 and $1,000, depending on size, labor costs, and roof specifics. A ridge vent costs between $300 and $650 on average, with most people paying about $500. Your final costs will vary based on the size, type, and number of units you install.
Ridge vents are typically the experienced roofing contractor's top choice for a superior attic ventilation system. With turtle vents, roofers need one for every 150 square feet of attic floor space. With ridge vents, you only need one for every 300 square feet — their efficiency is double that of turtle vents.
Which type of vent is best for my roof? In most cases, we recommend soffit vents for intake and a ridge vent for exhaust. For homes that cannot have a ridge vent, box vents are generally the second best option for exhaust.
Install a ridge vent like the Certainteed filtered ridge vent. Using the correct roofing nails, install cap shingles over the ridge vent.
A ridge cap is also a type of baffle used for ridge vents. A cap sits on the ridge vent itself and creates an overlapping shield to prevent water from getting in. Ridge caps also create the vent system pull that sucks fresh air into the attic or roof space and expels stale air.
Ridge Vents: What You Need to Know
They are considered one of the most effective types of roof vents due to their design and positioning. Ridge vents work by creating a continuous air channel, allowing hot air to escape and fresh air to enter through intake vents located at the lower parts of the roof.
Unlike most other roof vents, the amount of ridge vent is calculated per linear foot. The standard ridge vent without a baffle is 4 feet long and covers 72 square inches of net free area. With that in mind, you'll need a total of 20' of ridge vent to ventilate a 1,500 square foot attic properly.
Ridge Vents Can Become Plugged!
totally blocked by wasp nests or dust and mold or mildew. Add to that the intake or soffit vents facing the same problem.