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Gable vents offer passive ventilation of the attic space and roof. When the outside air is moving perpendicular to the gable vents, it’s like two windows on opposite sides of a room: cool air into one side, and hot air out the other. Airflow through vents in the attic will draw heated air out as it rises.
Does a house need gable vents?
Gable vents are usually installed on the exterior wall of your attic in order to create proper air circulation during extreme climate conditions. During the winter, stagnant air can cause condensation to form in your attic as well, once again putting your house at risk for mold, mildew, and leaks.
Do I need gable vents and ridge vents?
To summarize: Seal air leaks in your attic floor so that roof venting doesn’t suck conditioned air into the attic and cause moisture problems. Adding a ridge vent is a fine idea, and don’t worry about it competing with the gable vents. If the gable vents aren’t letting in rain or snow, leave them alone.
Are gable vents intake or exhaust?
Gable vents are installed in the gabled ends at opposite ends of the attic. When prevailing winds blow perpendicular to the vents, the gable vents act as both intake and exhaust. Less air exchange takes place and attic ventilation is not uniform, so it’s less effective.
Should gable vents be closed in winter?
You should absolutely leave your roof vents open during the winter – do not cover them! During the winter, roof ventilation works to keep temperatures even. Closing your vents makes the attic space too warm and dry – dangerous conditions for mold as well as pests.
Which is better ridge vent or gable vent?
Gable vents will alter the air flow around the ridge vent and, especially when wind is parallel to the ridge (at right angles to the gable), can actually reverse air flow through the ridge vent, pulling rain or snow into the attic. The most efficient option is ridge venting combined with continuous soffit vents.
How do you keep rain out of gable vents?
Place a deflector over the opening of the vent to keep rain from blowing through the opening. Deflectors are available in many sizes, configurations and colors to match your existing vent cover. Select a vent cover made of stainless steel for outdoor use.
Are gable vents a good idea?
That’s because gable vents are too close to ridge vents to move significantly cooler air. Gable and ridge vents both work ideally with soffit vents. This layer of air traps heat in the living space as well as trapping moisture that condenses in the cooler winter months.
Can I use a gable fan with a ridge vent?
Combining an attic power vent fan with a ridge vent is usually not recommended because: It could reverse the natural flow of hot air out the ridge vent. If air is drawn in through the ridge vent while it’s raining, it might pull rainwater in with it, which could lead to leaking or mold in the attic.
What is the best way to vent an attic?
Rafter vents should be placed in your attic ceiling in between the rafters at the point where your attic ceiling meets your attic floor. Once they are in place, you can then place the batts or blankets, or blow insulation, right out to the very edge of the attic floor.
Can you vent an attic too much?
More Attic Ventilation is Good Insufficient ventilation can lead to moisture problems during the winter and decreased energy efficiency during the summer but too much ventilation can be just as bad, if not worse. That said, air resistance and interference (such as vent grates) reduces the area of true ventilation.
Can you over ventilate an attic?
It’s possible to have too much exhaust ventilation, but you cannot have too much intake ventilation. If there is more intake ventilation than the attic’s square footage requires, it’s not problematic because any excess intake converts to “exhaust” on the leeward side of the house.
Do gable vents have screens?
Most attic vents have a mesh screen already attached to them, but sometimes the screen comes loose and you need to repair it.
What happens if your attic is not vented?
But in homes without appropriate insulation and ventilation in the attic, heat migrates. Meanwhile, because hot air is full of moisture, all that water hanging out in your attic is causing condensation to build up. Excess heat and condensation can cause major damage to your roof and roofing materials.
Can you vent a bathroom fan through a gable vent?
When venting a bathroom exhaust fan, make sure to vent the air to the outside, rather than into your attic where it can cause mold and mildew to form. Options for venting a bathroom exhaust fan include (best to worst): Through the roof or an exterior gable wall.
Do gable vent fans work?
Based on our industry experience, the answer is, yes. Attic fans do really work. They will help to circulate air in your attic and ventilate the space so that it stays closer to the outside temperature.
Can I install a ridge vent to an existing roof?
An efficient way to gain enough venting area in the roof is by installing ridge vents. Both metal and shingle-over ridge vents are available, according to Lowe’s. The basic procedure for installing them is the same, but you have to cover the latter variety with shingles.
How much does it cost to install a gable vent?
Gable Vent Replacement Cost The replacement price of a gable vent averages between $10 and $60 but can be up to $150, depending on the style you choose. The price of a carpenter to replace or install a gable-mounted unit is about $70 an hour.
Can rain get into roof vents?
But some roof air vents sit fairly flat to the roof, with a mushroom style hood and unprotected sides. And on occasion a hard driving rain with whipping wind will cause roof vents to leak water. If your roof vent leaks during heavy rain, the rain may be blowing up under the hood and into the vent.
How do you keep birds out of your gable vents?
Protect any vents before birds start nesting in there! Protective vent products you can use: Hardware cloth—galvanized wire mesh 1/2 in x 1/2 in square openings. Commercial vent covers—dryer-vent specific and general use models.
