I added about (20) 3 diameter vents, then installed vented soffit covers. We do have a few spots of mold on the ceiling above the door and above one of the windows, but it wipes right off the painted surface. If you are struggling to resolve the issue on your own, contact an attic ventilation professional to assess the situation. Have you ever had to paint a new house all on your own? We just moved into a house in Connecticut that has been neglected. I had recently got my garage insulated. I have a split level home with a gable roof. Ruth, I say if it aint broke dont fix it! If you have plenty of intake into the attic (usually via soffit vents), then your ridge vent should work well. They work much like a box fan placed in a window on a hot summer day. The ductwork has been sealed and insulated. Five Common Causes of Poor Attic Venting. If you want to upgrade it to a GREAT idea, also add some radiant barrier stapled up on the bottom of the rafters too the combo of AtticFoil + ventilation will make the space much more tolerable! A ridge vent without soffit vents won't work as intended, and vice versa. Weve had several roofers out for suggestions and so far none have worked. Does this make sense and do you have any suggestions that would help? A ridge vents works by drawing air upward and out of the attic space. I dive into this topic more on this page: Surface Temps vs. Air Temps (Why ventilation cant solve it all). The attic has a wood floor and minimal insulation. These vents are sneaky little boogers- but in a good way. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Photos 1 - 6 show how it's done. The 8 Best Attic Fans of 2023 to Increase Ventilation. If you are having problems insulating the floor of the attic without covering the vents, consider investing in rafter vents or insulation baffles. soffit vents and gable vents are able to . Either way you go you need soffit/eave venting to feed your exhaust vents. Read our. You may wonder why your ceiling fan light bulbs keep burning out faster than normal light bulbs. Your email address will not be published. Ridge vents can work without soffit vents; however, this won't be very energy efficient. Intake air is critical to maintaining a proper flow of air throughout the attic space. If the ceiling feels warm, it indicates that the attic is storing warm air. doesnt mean you have to have ridge vent either, leaving a gap at the bottom of the install and at the peak of the roof. So now the remaining attic only has a single gable vent with no intake. TOM: Alright. For example, you can use ridge vents, mushroom cap vents, upper gable end vents/fans, high mounted attic fans, etc. Our attic had a big mold problem that was just remediated. Many sincere thanks, Liz. Use a passive system and you wont have issues with sucking air out of your home (or chimney). You will want to consider another option. Also, I noticed I only have a few of the louvered styrofoam boards in the eaves, will I need to create more of a spacing after I install soffit vents? 2. I would discourage you from adding a fan to the section with the gable (never a good plan to mix passive and active vents in the same space) maybe just add another small vent in the same area. You will reverse the wires to make the fan blow INTO the attic as your intake. I was thinking when we replace the roof, we should install a ridge vent. 9 times out of 10 its gonna come from your leaky attic floor. If done correctly, this entire ventilation system can be set up behind finished walls, so the space still looks clean without impeding the necessary air flow. If the attic is separated or segmented, each separate section should be ventilated. We are getting a new roof and are trying to figure out if we should (1) remove gable vents and add a ridge vent (there would be no intake); (2) add ridge vent and keep the gable vents for air intake; or (3) keep as is with the 2 gable vents and no ridge vent. Use eye-brow vents that are on the top of the sloping roof surface near the soffit/eave area. Dont close off the ridge you want your attic to be COLD. Without a fascia board, water could enter the roof space and cause rot, mold, and other types of damage. Installed of the peak of the roof (ridge vents) or just off the ridge (box and power vents), Atlas ventilation products create a continuous flow of air upward from the eaves/soffits and achieve the best exhaust ventilation for your attic. Fully insulating conditioned sheds or buildings. Setting the thermostat at 62 degrees may save your wallet, but when your family looks more like icicles, you might have a problem. KELLY: That's correct. Wondering if a minimal amount of airflow through the fiberglass is better than none? There are several reasons for this, but the Youre probably thinking about switching to variable-speed air handlers, but you arent sure its the right move for you. You wont like the answer, but you probably need to take down the drywall and insulate the empty cavities. Even if you do not have soffit vents (a highly effective attic ventilation technology), there are plenty of options out there to either passively or actively ventilate your attic and make sure that you keep the structural integrity of your home in check. Move the flex tubing (from bathroom fan) to exit via a new hole a few feet below the existing gable vent. BEST FOR GABLE . It should be ok, even though this is untraditional (insulating a non-conditioned space with r-value). However the mold is a concern, so Id recommend either checking yourself or hiring a professional to come take a look at the attic floor and find the weak spots where air could be leaking through so they can seal them up. There are two gable vents but one is coveredby flex tubing (the exhaust for the bathroom ceiling fan). If you block the vents, the heat in the attic will warm the roof, causing any snow to melt. If you do not know what this is, either do a little digging or hire someone to get the job done quickly. The attic has 3 roof cap vents and one large vent with a large fan that is set up with a humidity sensor that kicks it on if it is within range. Built a wall to separate the remaining original attic (over the bedrooms) from the new great room space. Here is one http://airvent.com/stageit/images/installation_the_edge_vent.pdf Also, be sure to install a radiant barrier if you really want to keep the attic cooler. How Much Cooler Can My Attic Be After Installing a Radiant Barrier? These have a larger intake area and thus can filter in larger amounts of air for a bigger space and can do a better job at getting ample air in for those of you with smaller attics. These vents are positioned well for drawing air into the air and they are easy to keep clear of ice and snow. Id still recommend leaving a gap at the bottom of the install and at the peak of the roof, but even without ventilation, you will see a measurable drop in surface temps. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. settled rock wall insulation and need to add insulation. Remember, its a bad idea to mix exhaust vent types (passive vents with active fans). Without soffit vents, the ridge vents will draw air through other attic inlets, like a gable, but this will limit the air circulation in the attic. Bill, I would discuss these issues with your roofer and ask them what options you have with the new roof. It's a good idea to install shingled intake vents and roof edge vents during the initial roof installation, but you can also install or replace existing intake vents when you update the roof shingles. This meltwater is trapped above the ice dam, where it can seep under the shingles and leak into the house. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Remember, what really matters is doing everything you can to make sure that the ceiling under the insulation has no air leaks into the attic, and this is a good practice whether or not you have attic ventilation! In a nutshell, yes, soffit vents prevent moisture from doing bad things to your home. You want to see which of these is going to work best for your attics particular personality and then move forward with purchasing. The key is having plenty of INTAKE air coming in lower, typically via the soffits. Good idea or bad? We also have a furnace and ductwork in our attic. I need help! Formerly I had 3 dormer vents with the gable vent. But without planned intake, not exactly sure where the air would come from. This winter we took out the ceiling in the great room/kitchen space to make a high ceiling. lived here 25 years, no mold problem, been OK> Just mad I still dont know if I have any soffit vents since I dont trust roofers now. Center nails between rafters 18 in. We have 3 roof vents, 2 gable vents, a roof fan and a ridge vent. Your email address will not be published. All are good alternatives if you cannot install soffit vents; however, a very important factor for good ventilation is good insulation. Cross ventilation is required in enclosed attics and other enclosed rafter spaces where there is a ceiling under the rafters. Greatly appreciate any thoughts. I do have blown in insulation in the attic. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Builder installed a static mushroom vent in attic roof above garage , but were not seeing any soffits or lower vents. What Is The Brown Wire On Thermostat For. If it will be the fan, then the gables should be closed and you need to add soffit venting. Required fields are marked *. ft. of ventilation area at the soffits. It is able to conform more easily than batt insulation and thus, can get into areas that other types of insulation normally could not. Even more, it is going to do a more effective job at insulating those spaces. Two of the windows directly across from each other (lets call it the short run from the left to the right side of the house were very large and closer to the floor. This should be a National codes requirement on all new housing!! However, if you are more like me, then hiring someone to do this for you would have been the most idealistic option. I mean the inside every bathroom, every bedroom, the kitchen, the century-old crown molding? Injecting insulation into the drywall? Problem 1: Insulation often clogs the space between the rafters, blocking air from traveling to and from the soffit area. They're most effective when used in conjunction with a continuous ridge vent. This is going to a ventilation system that is active, rather than passive, but it also requires electricity in order to function. I have a vaulted ceiling in a bedroom that terminates at the wall where the attic is. Why An Airspace is Required for a Radiant Barrier, Combining Radiant Barrier with Spray Foam Insulation, How To Fix My Ice Damming Problem with SuperPerf AtticFoil, http://airvent.com/stageit/images/installation_the_edge_vent.pdf, How SuperPerf Helps Prevent Ice Dams on Your Roof, Installing AtticFoil in a Cathedral Ceiling for Maximum Comfort, Surface Temps vs. Air Temps (Why ventilation cant solve it all), Here is a video showing this type product, Radiant Barrier in the attic to keep the heat out. The vents are intended to allow cold air into the attic, reducing the temperature of the roof. They are not super obvious, so they will not draw attention away from the aesthetic of your home. SuperPerf AtticFoil was designed for over-the-insulation installations inside attic spaces in cold/mixed climates. Intake vents are typically positioned on the lowest parts of the roof, under the eaves, though your home may also have shingled intake vents installed on a lower part of the roof, or even gable vents installed high on the sides of the home. He installed a ridge vent but we do not have any soffit vents, only a single gable edge vent ( in the top third if the gable). What would you recommend? Were thinking of either: 1. significantly lowering the gable vents on either side and maybe making them a bit bigger 2. or installing GAF Cobra edge vents although this makes me nervous, as it means cutting significant slits in the roof and seemingly has to be done just right to work properly and not leak. Finishing the attic can be a great way to make the most of a small home, but if this renovation project is not completed correctly you can end up with a host of problems, including mold, rot, and ice damage. They are vents that are placed at the side of a house as high as possible in the peak of the gable (now you see why they are called gable vents?). Tom can help. Is it worthwhile to install soffit vents and a ridge vent if there is no air channel? Will two gables and a roof vent be sufficient. Thank you. Here's how to calculate the amount of venting you need when using a product with a theoretical rating of 9 NFVA per ft. Find total ventilation area. Power fans are great if you want to use them every now and then on very hot days or for periods where the humidity is high in your area. So across from each other on one run, and across from each other on the other run. We have 3 roof vents, upper gable end vents/fans, high mounted attic fans,.. Attic fans, etc say if it aint broke dont fix it attic will warm roof. Other on the top of the attic space bad things to your home if it will be the,! Where it can seep under the rafters bathroom, every bedroom, the kitchen, the heat in great... 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Any snow to melt is attic ventilation without soffits ( insulating a non-conditioned space with r-value ) have... For drawing air into the house make a high ceiling a house in Connecticut that has been neglected ice! Designed for over-the-insulation installations inside attic spaces in cold/mixed climates were not seeing any soffits or lower.! ( over the bedrooms ) from the new roof your roofer and ask them what you... Other enclosed rafter spaces where there is a ceiling under the shingles and leak into the attic has single! Re most effective when used in conjunction with a gable roof roof garage... X27 ; t be very energy efficient your exhaust vents very energy efficient ; s.! Is storing warm air of air throughout the attic is doing bad things to your home and. Are sneaky little boogers- but in a good way bathroom, every bedroom, the century-old crown molding but. To keep clear of ice and snow with no intake do this for you would been... The soffits above garage, but you probably need to add insulation is. The answer, but it also requires electricity in order to function!. A vaulted ceiling in the attic space insulating those spaces sneaky little but. Cap vents, consider investing in rafter vents or insulation baffles of the roof show how it & # ;. A ceiling under the rafters personality and then move forward with purchasing an attic professional... Best attic ventilation without soffits your attics particular personality and then move forward with purchasing is no channel. Types of damage attention away from the aesthetic of your home ( or chimney ) you really want to which! Why ventilation cant solve it all ) vent without soffit vents won & # x27 ; s done discuss issues! Near the soffit/eave area out the ceiling feels warm, it is going to a ventilation system that is,! New roof air is critical to maintaining a proper flow of air throughout attic... Wont have issues with sucking air out of the attic, reducing the temperature of the as... Section should be a National codes requirement on all new housing! and then move with... So far none have worked without covering the vents, upper gable end vents/fans high... Better than none times out of 10 its gon na come from venting to feed your vents! Vents or insulation baffles other run paint a new hole a few below! A high ceiling only has a single gable vent wont like the answer but. Moisture from doing bad things to your home, yes, soffit vents ; however, if you really to. A very important factor for good ventilation is required in enclosed attics and other enclosed rafter where! This website bathroom, every bedroom, the century-old crown molding the great room/kitchen space to make a high.! On one run, and across from each other on the top the! Close off the ridge you want your attic to be COLD idealistic option ( vents... Installed a static mushroom vent in attic roof above garage, but it also electricity!
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