Table of Contents
Turbine vents (also known as whirly birds) work by using a drawing effect through convection (heat rising) to move the air in your attic around even when there is no wind. As long as this type of vent is installed properly, the air in your attic is moved around 10-12 times per hour.
Are turbine vents effective?
Highly Effective In low wind situations, turbine vents do an admirable job of moving warm air out of the attic areas of a property. However, when the wind is blowing, these vents turn into a powerful vacuum of warm air, drawing it up through the vent as effectively as any powered alternative.
How does a whirlybird vent work?
Whirlybird roof ventilators consist of a metal top that is specifically engineered to scoop the wind with fins. As the wind blows into the turbine, the vent rotates. This rotating motion is what creates the vacuum effect that sucks hot air from the interiors of the roof cavity.
How do turbine vents keep water out?
During installation, turbine vents are sealed at several points to prevent water penetration. The base of the vent, where the flashing meets the stack, the nail heads, the bead joining the upper and lower sections, and the vertical seams in the stack are typically sealed with roofing cement or silicone caulk.
Should I cover turbine roof vents in winter?
Roof ventilation is important year-round. 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.
How long do turbine vents last?
A single 12-inch-diameter turbine vent can provide a complete change of air in the attic space every 52 minutes if the outside breeze is just 5 mph. A 14-inch diameter unit can provide a complete air change in the attic every 14 minutes if the wind is 15 mph.
Do turbine vents rust?
MAINTENANCE/CARE Some roof turbines have ball bearings that need maintained and lubricated every once in a while. Rust can also become a problem for some roof turbine models. To prevent rust, look for aluminum roof turbines.
Do whirlybirds let rain in?
When installed by professionals, whirlybirds do not leak or let in rain. When there is no wind and the turbine is not spinning, the rain water simply runs down the outside of the fins on the whirlybird turbine.
Do whirlybirds work with no wind?
#4 – They Don’t Work When There Is No Wind Whirlybirds are designed to spin in even in the lightest winds. Whirlybirds extract hot air via two ways; convection and creating a vacuum. The vacuum potential is driven by the wind speed and drawing heat out of the roof space.
Why does a whirlybird spin?
The spinning effect is due to the action of air on the wings as it rushes past the dropping whirlybird. Flipping the wings causes them to spin in the opposite direction. The longer the wings, the slower the drop because of the uplift on the greater wing area.
Are turbine vents waterproof?
Turbine Vent Cover 420D Waterproof Material: Window air conditioner cover are made of high quality 420D waterproof oxford cloth, with a silver inner layer, better waterproof effect, washable and durable.
How does a wind turbine roof vent work?
The turbine vent Much like a window, this round vent is powered by the wind. It houses a circular fan that’s very sensitive to breezes. When the wind blows the right way, it turns the fan, which in turn draws up air from the attic and disperses it.
What does a turbine vent look like?
Turbine vents do indeed look like small wind turbines installed on your roof. As the wind moves across your rooftop, it turns these turbines and draws air up out of your attic area. No additional source of power is needed, and turbines are available in a wide variety of sizes and styles.
Do whirlybirds help with heat?
Answer: The answer is yes to the question, “Do Whirlybirds Work?” Whirlybirds work to extract hot air from roof spaces, efficiently ventilation the space below. A building’s or house’s roof works as a heat trap. By sucking out the hot air, whirlybirds effectively eliminate the heat that builds up in rooms.
Do whirlybirds make your house colder in winter?
In fact, whirlybirds help expel moisture during winter months, keeping the air drier, and can help mitigate that ‘cold’ feeling from moisture in the air.
Do whirlybirds work in winter?
The benefits of whirlybirds in winter Whirlybirds remove damp air which means they reduce power bills in winter. Moisture laden air from inside the home, and outside air, can condense and cause dampness.
How do you lubricate a roof turbine?
How to Lubricate a Roof Vent Turbine Set up the ladder against the edge of the roof. Climb up the ladder and make your way up the roof to the turbine vent. Apply white silicone spray lubricant, in several locations around the turbine vent, where it rotates on its base.
Are plastic roof vents any good?
They get dry, brittle and crack. The same thing happens to the plastic can vents on your roof. Plastic can vents are not made to last the lifetime of your roof and sometimes can cause serious issue for your home, including major leaking.
How do you stop a turbine vent from squeaking?
If the squeaking persists, or gets better but does not go entirely, try spinning the fins and spraying some more as the fins spin. Most of the time, this will be enough to cure your squeaking roof turbine vent.
How do you fix a noisy roof turbine?
Climb the ladder, remove the access panel, and enter the attic. Find the noisy turbine and apply the lubricant to the moving parts of the turbine. Be sure to lubricate the bearings. These are located in the track where the pipe coming out of the roof meets the spinning part of the vent.
Are whirlybirds better than ridge vents?
Roof turbines move more air than ridge vents Under the right conditions, a whirlybird can move considerably more air than a ridge vent. A turbine vent will rotate at even a small wind which sucks out the air from the attic. The more the wind the more powerful will be its venting.
