Breathing is something you do every day but never think about, so you might not think much about how your attic needs to “breathe” either. Your attic needs to be constantly inhaling and exhaling air by pushing fresh air into your home and pulling hot air out of your attic.
That’s why roof vents are an essential component of your home. Without roof vents, your attic would get too hot and turn into an oven. Good ventilation is needed to prevent moisture buildup in the attic space, as condensation can lead to mildew or water damage.
There are several different types of roof vents to choose from, and homeowners want to know which type is the best. It isn’t just about functionality; it’s about finding the perfect type of roof vent to match your home.
What is Roof Vent?
The purpose of a roof vent is to bring fresh air into your attic and push stale air outside. This air circulation helps regulate your home’s indoor temperature by keeping it cool during the hot summer months and preventing moisture problems in damp, chilly weather.
A roofing ventilation system consists of openings in your roof that are protected by wire mesh and louvers.
Roof vents are divided into two groups: intake vents and exhaust vents.
- Exhaust vents push out hot air from the attic. Expelling stale air allows fresh air to take its place. Exhaust vents are located at the top of the roof so the heat can escape through the exhaust vents.
- Intake vents bring outside air into your attic, as if your home is inhaling a breath of fresh air. Intake vents are located at the bottom part of the roof in order to let cool air in.
A combination of both exhaust and intake roof vents installed on your home work together in tandem to keep a consistent airflow in your attic.
Roof vents are either active vents or passive vents, depending on if they rely on electric power or not.
Active Roof Vents
Active vents, or mechanical vents, are powered by electricity. They actively stimulate airflow by making use of motors, turbines, and fans.
Because they are powered by electric energy, they are more powerful and capable of moving larger amounts of air than passive vents.
They have moving parts, so over time they wear down and will eventually require maintenance. If an active vent is malfunctioning, you should call a professional roofer to repair it.
Passive Roof Vents
Passive vents don’t use electricity but take advantage of natural air flows by relying on forces such as the wind or convection, the phenomenon where cold air pushes out warm air.
Since heat naturally rises, passive vents are placed on top of roof ridges, where hot air escapes outside.
The benefits of passive vents is that they are silent and they don’t require electricity, which saves on energy bills. They don’t require much maintenance either since they don’t have moving parts or electronic components.
Types of Active Roof Vents
Power Vents
Vent Type: Exhaust
Shaped like an upside-down metal dinner dish, power vents are set squat on your roof. Set high near the ridge of your roof, these flat roof vents have spinning blades that work hard to expel stale, hot air from the attic.
If your home has high humidity levels, power vents are a good choice. Power vents require a humidistat, a moisture monitoring device that alerts the vents if the humidity in the attic gets too high. When the moisture levels and temperature are too high, the roof vents turn on and circulate attic airflow.
Power vents are effective against ice dams, making them a good pick for homes that experience a lot of heavy snowfall.
Because they are so powerful and effective, power vents are capable of expelling large amounts of air, but such a large displacement of air might be too much for residential homes.
Best Suited For:
- Large buildings
- Commercial properties
- Not the best choice for residential homes
Pros
- Powerful and effective
- Quickly removes large amounts of hot air
- Prevents ice dams
- Prevents high humidity levels
- Can be powered by solar panels
Cons
- Not durable or long-lasting
- Requires a humidistat
- Requires electric power
Ridge Vents
Vent Type: Exhaust
Ridge vents look quite different from other types of vents, as they form a continuous line of exhaust vents embedded along the entire roofline.
As the name suggests, ridge vents are installed at the highest point of your roof, right along the ridgeline. This is optimal placement, since hot air rises to the top where it can escape. Ridge vents are often paired together with soffit vents.
While other types of vents create an awkward roof protrusion, ridge vents are not easily noticeable. Their aesthetic appeal makes them very popular with homeowners.
Best Suited For:
- Gable roofs
- Asphalt shingle roofs
- Steep-sloped roofs
- Not compatible with every roof style
Pros
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Made to blend in with asphalt shingle roofs
- Improved airflow
Cons
- Expensive
- Not compatible with every roof type
- Debris can slip through the cracks
- Requires electric power
- Can leak with heavy rain
Solar Vents
Vent Type: Exhaust
Solar-powered vents get their energy from the sun. The solar panels collect energy to power a solar vent’s fans. By relying on a renewable energy source, these eco-friendly vents save energy as they keep your attic cool and well-ventilated.
Unfortunately, solar-powered vents don’t receive enough energy to power them throughout the day, so they have to turn off at times during the daytime while it recharges. As a result, your attic may get hot and your HVAC unit may have to work overtime to compensate.
Best Suited For:
- Gently sloping roofs
- Not good with steep-sloped roofs
- Not good with thatch roofs
Pros
- Eco-friendly
- Low cost after installation
- No noise
Cons
- Turns off to recharge battery
- Fans are often either too powerful or not powerful enough to maintain proper ventilation
- Most expensive roof vent
Types of Passive Roof Vents
Ridge Vents Without Baffle
Vent Type: Exhaust
A ridge vent is an active vent if it has a baffle, which is a chute that channels airflow into the attic. But if it doesn’t have a baffle, then a ridge vent is a passive roof vent. Nothing about its appearance is different, since both passive and active ridge vents appear as a line traveling down the ridge of the roof.
Best Suited For:
- Gable roofs
- Asphalt shingle roofs
- Steep roofs
- Not compatible with every roof style
Pros
- Aesthetically appealing
- Popular roof vent style
- Decreases energy costs
Cons
- Rain, snow, insects, or debris are more likely to get in the attic
- Expensive
Gable Vents
Vent Type: Intake and Exhaust
A typical choice for gable-style roofs, gable vents are flat, wooden vents with slots for air to filter in and out. Gable vents can be made from several types of materials:
- Metal
- Plastic
- Vinyl
- Wood
Installed underneath your home’s eaves, these vents are covered with mesh screens and louvers.
Gable vents should be combined with another type of vent for an effective ventilation system, since gable vents don’t work well on their own. They work best paired with soffit intake vents.
Gable vents add an elegant accent to your home, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes that match any home.
Best Suited For:
- Gable-style roofs
- Not good for complex roof structures
- Work with almost any roofing material
- Popular choice for asphalt and concrete roofs
- Can be used on metal roofing
Pros
- Curb appeal
- Customizable
- Reduces energy costs
Cons
- Occasionally causes uneven airflow
Turbine Vents
Vent Type: Exhaust
Known by the whimsical nickname of “whirlybirds”, wind turbines rely on wind power to spin them. The spinning motion powers the wind turbine, allowing the vents to draw hot air out of the attic, displacing the stale air with fresh air. Properly installed whirlybirds typically circulate the attic air about 10-12 times every hour.
Whirlybirds have a distinctive rounded shape, like a metal chef’s hat.
Roof turbines may seem vulnerable to the weather but they are actually a resolute guardian against snow, ice, or rain. However, if a turbine vent is damaged, it may not be able to prevent rain, snow, or insects from getting into your attic.
Best Suited For:
- Windy areas
- Homes with large attic spaces
- Residential, commercial, agricultural, or industrial attics
- They don’t work with all roof types
Pros
- Saves energy
- Very effective
- Works with any size roof
Cons
- High-speed winds may cause breakage
- Reduces curb appeal
- Expensive
Soffit Vents
Vent Type: Intake
The most common type of roof vents are soffit vents, which are placed at the lowest part of the roof, an ideal location for allowing fresh air to funnel into the attic. Because they are installed in the eaves, soffit vents are also called eave vents.
These intake vents work great in combination with box vents or ridge vents. They are made from aluminum, vinyl, or PVC.
Their location frees them from being blocked by debris such as leaves or snow. Their placement also makes them less noticeable, improving the aesthetic of your home.
Best Suited For:
- Work best for homes with thin eaves
- Compatible with a variety of home styles
Pros
- Efficient
- Hidden from view
- Free from being blocked by debris
- Reduces energy costs
Cons
- Moist air has a tendency to collect under soffit vents, which can lead to water damage
Box Vents
Vent Type: Exhaust
A common choice for homeowners, box vents are flat and box-shaped, living up to their many different titles:
- Flat vents
- Louvers vents
- Low-profile vents
- Turtle vents
Box vents are positioned in the high point near the roof ridge, allowing hot air to escape outside. Typically, you’ll need multiple box vents for your roofing system, as one will not usually be sufficient.
Best Suited For:
- Low-pitched roofs
Pros
- No maintenance necessary
- Saves energy costs
Cons
- Not the most efficient roof vent
- Requires multiple roof vents
Cupola Vents
Vent Type: Exhaust
Known for their aesthetic appeal, cupola vents are elegant tower-like structures that stand proudly on your roof. Some homeowners even use them for purely decorative purposes. But although they are sometimes used only for decor, cupola vents also can be functional.
Best Suited For:
- Often used for stables or agricultural buildings
- Commonly used for Spanish or Mediterranean style roofs
- Multiple types of roofing materials such as metal, asphalt shingle, and flat roofs
Pros
- Improve curb appeal
- Suitable for many types of roofing
Cons
- Expensive
- Require maintenance
Dormer Vents
Vent Type: Exhaust
Like many other exhaust vents, dormer vents are placed high on the roof in order to allow hot air to escape. Dormer vents have a screen placed between the louvers to prevent wildlife such as squirrels from entering your home.
Best Suited For:
- Multiple types of roofing materials, including asphalt shingles and clay tile
Pros
- Reduced risk of water leaks
- Protects from wildlife entry
- Reduces energy costs
Cons
- Debris may get through
Problems Caused by Poor Ventilation
Roof ventilation isn’t exactly a regular conversation starter, so it’s not something that you spend a lot of time thinking about. It might not seem like a particularly important component of your home, but a lack of good ventilation can result in a variety of problems for your home.
Mold and Rust
Without proper roof ventilation, moisture gets trapped inside the attic with no way to escape. Humid air also can cause rust and it creates a perfect habitat for growth such as mold, mildew, fungus and rot.
Mold growth poses health risks and can cause asthma attacks, allergies, or respiratory problems. Mold also stains and discolors surfaces that it grows on.
Ice Dams
Ice dams are a sign of too much warm air trapped inside your roof. An attic ventilation system regulates the temperatures to keep it even, which prevents ice buildup from forming on your roof during cold winters.
Shortens Roof Lifespan
Without a good attic ventilation system, your attic might turn into an oven. Too much heat damages rafters, wooden framing, underlayment, insulation, shingles, and more. Overheating attics can damage your roof and shorten the lifespan of your roofing system.
Sagging or spongy roof decking is a sign of poor roof ventilation. If your roof decking is starting to get spongy, you’ll need to fix your roof vent system.
Overworks HVAC Unit
If your air conditioning unit is working overtime or if it breaks down, it might be due to poor ventilation. A roof ventilation system helps maintain indoor temperatures, so poor ventilation may strain your HVAC unit.
Creates Hot or Cold Areas Indoors
If you’ve noticed that your home has pockets of hot or cold spots as you move from room to room, the drastic temperature difference may indicate a problem with the ventilation system.
Increases Energy Costs
Poor ventilation increases energy costs by putting more strain on your air conditioning unit. Furthermore, poor ventilation systems can lead to costly damage later down the road. It pays to have a good ventilation system, since ultimately a good ventilation system will save you money.
Cost to Install a Roof Vent
If you’re in the market for a roof vent but don’t know which type to get, you’ll want to consider the budget too. The prices of roof vents vary depending on the type, so you’ll want to narrow down what’s in your budget.
| Type of Roof Vent | Typical Price Range (including labor) |
|---|---|
| Box | $53 – $197 |
| Turbine | $58 – $250 |
| Dormer | $73 – $283 |
| Power | $233 – $1,100 |
| Cupola | $163 – $837 |
| Gable | $85 – $265 |
| Ridge | $297 – $583 |
| Solar | $318 – $1,200 |
| Soffit | $297 – $413 |
What Roof Vent is Right for My Home?
It is recommended that homeowners use one square foot of roof vents for every 300 square feet of attic floor.
But you may be wondering: how do I know what type of roof vent I should get for my home?
The answer: It depends.
Every home is unique, so there are many factors you’ll have to consider in deciding what type of ventilation is the right fit for your home:
- Architectural style of your home
- Design of your roof
- Local climate
- Your home’s airflow
- Your budget
It’s not a good idea to randomly mix-and-match roof vents, as cobbling together different types of intake and exhaust vents on the same roof may prevent air from flowing properly through the attic space. A roof ventilation system requires a perfect balance to keep the system in good functioning order.
Every home has a unique airflow and style, so if you are unsure of what vent to choose, you should contact a professional roofer and ask what will work best for your home.
FAQs About Types of Roof Vents
Do Roof Vents Make Homes Colder in the Winter?Your roof ventilation system keeps your attic cooler during the winter, which is exactly the temperature your attic should be during the winter months. Your attic should only be a few degrees warmer than the outside air, since this will help prevent ice dams from forming.
Roof ventilation during the wintertime is also necessary to regulate the moisture in your attic.
Roof vents will not leak so long as they are properly installed and in good working order. But if a roof vent is damaged, blown askew by rough winds, or poorly installed, it may cause roof leaks.
Can Rodents Get in Through the Roof Vents?If a roof vent is damaged or has a hole in its screen, it may be possible for wildlife to find their way into your attic.
Looking for a New Roof Vent?
Roof vents protect your roof from moisture and heat damage. If your new home needs roof vents, it’s time to choose the right type of roof vent for your home.
If you’re looking to hire a professional contractor to install roof vents, then LawnStarter can help you find a local roofing contractor today.
Main Image Credit: JRLPhotographer / Canva Pro / License
