Table of Contents
Where should a gable vent be placed?
Gable vents are installed in the gabled ends at opposite ends of the attic. They’re most effective when the vents align with the prevailing winds. This allows high air pressure on the upwind side of the home to push air into the attic, and low pressure on the downwind side to pull air out.
Are gable vents necessary?
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.
Should you cover gable vents in the 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.
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.
Should I seal gable vents?
There is no need to block the gable vents unless they are prone to collecting windblown rain and snow. If you don’t seal the leaks in the attic floor, the heat loss can melt snow (causing ice dams) and create condensation and moisture problems.
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.
How much does it cost to install gable vents?
They cost between $35 and $50 per vent to install. Gable vents, or wall louvers, are placed in the gable ends of the attic and can be used in combination with other vents. The higher they are, the more effective.
What type of contractor installs roof vents?
If your bathroom exhaust fan vents to the roof—or the repair or installation demands access to the attic, ceilings, or roof vents—then you may need a roofer.
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.
How do you measure for a replacement gable vent?
How to Measure Gable Vents Measure the length and width of your attic floor with a tape measure. Multiply the length by the width to determine the square footage of attic space you need to ventilate. Divide your total square footage by 300 to determine the vent area.
How are round gable vents measured?
First find your base length across the bottom of the wall opening. These vents are measured by the opening size. Second, measure the height of the opening at the center point. Some triangle gable vents are off center.
How do you know if attic is properly vented?
How to determine whether you need better attic ventilation Look at your eaves and roof. Touch your ceiling on a warm, sunny day. Thick ridges of ice on your eaves in winter are a sign of poor attic ventilation. Warm air that escapes living space also carries moisture that will condense on rafters or roof sheathing.
Is it possible to have too much attic ventilation?
Dangers of Too Much Ventilation The two main dangers associated with too much ventilation involve roof damage and increased utility bills. If you have too much air circulating, your roof will collect moisture causing damages that will weaken spots and then cause leaking.
What happens if 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.
Should you have ridge vents and gable vents?
The simple answer is: Not really. If your home features both ridge vents and gable vents operating simultaneously, you should think about sealing up the gable vents. Different types of exhaust vents actually prevent each other from working effectively. Ridge vents are especially good at their job when left alone.
How big of a gable vent do I need?
Determining what you need is simple — all you need is the size of your house and a calculator. Attic ventilation should equal approximately 1 square foot of vent area for every 300 square feet of attic, so figure out roughly how many square feet the footprint of your attic is, and then divide by 300.
