If you plan to staple radiant barrier up on the rafters and you find that your attic is still having trouble getting into that window of about 10-degrees of ambient temp, then you may consider increasing your ventilation to get you closer to ambient. If its a hip style roof, Id use turtle vents or wind turbines. Options include using a metal screen wire to create a barrier outside the vent, investing in flexible roof sealant to fill any holes or gaps around the vent, and replacing nearby flashing and shingling to prevent rain water from seeping through worn or damaged parts of the roof. They work great in the summers, but should not be used alone in the wintertime because they are not great with removing moisture- something that will dramatically change the overall effect of ventilation. Original design had an attic above the ceiling; attic was ventilated with passive gable vents on each end. If this is happening, your ventilation systems will then be working against you as they will pull all that warm air straight out of the attic and into the winter air. So across from each other on one run, and across from each other on the other run. Look at edge vents. Soffit vents come in several sizes and styles, including small round discs and rectangular grilles. Without proper ventilation, the temperature in the attic can reach unhealthy levels, which can quickly lead to problems. These vents are positioned well for drawing air into the air and they are easy to keep clear of ice and snow. Virtually ALL houses can benefit from increased attic ventilation. I have a split level home with a gable roof. Even on a calm day the flow of cool air in through one gable out through the other side can occur at a regular rate. Intake air is critical to maintaining a proper flow of air throughout the attic space. You may wonder why your ceiling fan light bulbs keep burning out faster than normal light bulbs. This is why effective insulation is so important. Yes, take the fan out! For so we have done several estimates and only one roofer told me to add vinyl hidden vented soffits and disconnect and remove the emerging part of our electric attic fan., in addition to installing a ridge vent. My first thought was to add a thermostatically controlled fan inside the gable vent. The two most common options are to: If you are installing a new roof, consider a drip edge vent. Consider installing eyebrow vents. BEST FOR GABLE . Timothy Dale is a home repair expert and writer with over a decade of hands-on construction and home improvement experience. 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. For more information on ventilation and moisture control, read this article I wrote on Proper Attic Ventilation. If there is plenty of soffit venting and if you have a relatively tight ceiling, then the makeup air will come from outside, which is desirable, summer and winter. They need to be plugged in and can either be turned on or are activated by a thermostat or humidistat. The attic istongue and groove. Should I be installing an electric fan? To ventilate your attic without soffits you can use gable vents, eyebrow vents, a venting drip edge, a shingle-over intake vent, wind turbines, or power vents. One way to know for sure if to hire someone (or DIY) to check your attic ventilation with a smoke test; theres adequate attic ventilation if the smoke exits out the exhaust vent during the test. Located at the lowest part of the roof, soffit vents allow cooler air to enter the attic space Running the length of the home, soffit vents allow for more air circulation than gable vents which are only on the ends of the attic. Will passive gable vents work ok with a ridge vent? If none of these options are possible, then we suggest you focus your attention to making sure the floor of the attic space is air-tight by checking ductwork (if applicable), lights/fans/vents protruding wires or hardware into the attic, and any other area of the attic floor where there are openings/holes/seams. When it comes to your attic, of course, there are professionals out there that can get it insulated within a matter of hours. Learn more here. I have a vaulted ceiling in a bedroom that terminates at the wall where the attic is. Its my position that you should have a proper ventilation system in your attic and that you should always take the time to air seal the floor of the attic (sealing off the living space from the non-conditioned attic space), but in cases where you dont (or arent able to), I want to offer some information and direction. Check out the page on How To Fix My Ice Damming Problem with SuperPerf AtticFoil and I would start there. If it will be the fan, then the gables should be closed and you need to add soffit venting. Do not block attic vents in winter. Cross ventilation is required in enclosed attics and other enclosed rafter spaces where there is a ceiling under the rafters. One of the most common intake vent options is soffit venting. Paul. There are no soffits and no way to add soffit vents. Install a ridge vent along the roof peak so that the air has somewhere to exit the attic space. If your home has narrow eaves, it may not have room for soffit vents, but soffit venting is not the only option to properly ventilate the attic. in. Greatly appreciate any thoughts. Brock I dont ever recommend mixing passive and active vents in the same attic because it almost always leads to problems. Hello! Ventilation is an absolute must when it comes to your attic and maintaining your home. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. After reading your articles I understand the necessity to install the soffits and probably disconnect the fan but would love to have your opinion . Thanks. Plus, roofing and attic ventilation systems can protect homes from the expensive roof and structural damage caused by trapped heat, ice dams, moisture and mold. They are able to work as an intake fan as well as an exhaust fan. Because of this, it can mean that these vents are sometimes a bit unreliable in calmer climate areas. We used to have a shrub in front of the gable so it could be from that. Tom can help.. It is able to conform more easily than batt insulation and thus, can get into areas that other types of insulation normally could not. This is installed by cutting holes along the face of the roof and then nailing the vents collar to that particular spot. Too much spacing and your insulation efforts could be all for not. If you will remove the fan, then the gables can be left alone but consider a ridge vent. If things are working well as they are, I would leave it be. Does it still make sense to install a radiant barrier if there is air flow coming in from the bottom but nowhere for the air to escape up top? It is an old home that appears to have originally had windows on the four sides of the gables. Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home, Attic Ventilation Building Code Requirements, How to Install a Ridge Vent on a Shingled Roof. #1 Problem - Blocked, Clogged or Dirty Soffit Vents. What would you recommend for venting with new asphalt shingles? Your email address will not be published. https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IRC2018P7/chapter-8-roof-ceiling-construction. If you block the vents, the heat in the attic will warm the roof, causing any snow to melt. Air from the soffit cycles to the vents to draw heat and moisture away from the house. Being in Houston, I definitely would recommend you install AtticFoil in the shed to make it much cooler in summer. This should be a National codes requirement on all new housing!! However, soffit vents are often blocked by inexperienced DIYers when insulating the attic. Center nails between rafters 18 in. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Below, we will be taking a closer look at this step considering its drastic effect on the overall ventilation success within your attic and home. I cannot see a way to put in soffit vents. Its a non-conditioned space. Even better, if you live in an area that is prone to lots of snow and ice, these are great options since they are protected by the shingle and are not directly exposed to the elements. feet. They are not super obvious, so they will not draw attention away from the aesthetic of your home. You can see an install here: How to Install AtticFoil in a Shed. We are in Houston, so often hot and humid weather. Most people have plenty of exhaust vents but not nearly enough *intake* vents. I wanted to use the overhead space so I hired professionals for drywall/insulation. I recommend you go with option #3 and just keep the gable vents & the wind will go in/out. In the event an opening is more than 1/4 inch, it should be covered with wire cloth, perforated vinyl, or other screening material. Problem 1: Insulation often clogs the space between the rafters, blocking air from traveling to and from the soffit area. You have discovered that your attic needs a bit more ventilation, but you have run into a small problem: it does not even have any existing soffits. Thank you. The two options available for those of you that are doing this yourself is loose fill and batt insulation. There is no ridge. They can effectively pull the hot air out, but come with a tradeoff of higher electricity costs. Your input would be appreciated. Best of all, Atlas ventilation products are eligible components of the Atlas Signature Select Roofing . The vents are intended to allow cold air into the attic, reducing the temperature of the roof. Wondering if a minimal amount of airflow through the fiberglass is better than none? I have gable vents on either side of the attic and a ridge vent. Adding attic vents is a simple matter of cutting holes and installing vents. These cool little contraptions are made for places that have wind speeds regularly of 5 miles per hour or greater. After you have removed the inch, simply attach the drip edge and you are in business. I just got my roof done really high pitch I have two gables vent on either side ( original) and they installed a ridge vent. Various exhaustvents can be used in conjunction with low gable vents and eye-brow inlets. Well you need them together. If youre willing to commit to this, this page shows you the best and easiest way to do it right: Insulating a cathedral ceiling for maximum comfort year-round. This is done through the proper insulation of the area and is something that is a quick and very effective fix. Seal up the gable vents and install a ridge vent. The bedroom gets up to 90 degrees when it is anywhere above 80 degrees outside and is warm to the touch all the way up, including the recessed lighting fixtures. Formerly I had 3 dormer vents with the gable vent. Built a wall to separate the remaining original attic (over the bedrooms) from the new great room space. It is typically made of wood, uPVC, or metal, and serves several important functions in roofing and construction. Or, should I suck air out both ends and allow the fans to suck conditioned air to provide ventilation? Thanks for the article! Any advice you can offer is much appreciated! Ventilation openings should open directly to the outside air. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Heat in the same attic because it almost always leads to problems and eye-brow.. From that that the air has somewhere to exit the attic space necessity. Wonder why your ceiling fan light bulbs keep burning out faster than normal light bulbs in summer and no to... Installing a new roof, causing any snow to melt that the air has somewhere to the! And active vents in the attic can reach unhealthy levels, which can quickly lead to.... Heat and moisture away from the soffit area one run, and website in this browser for the time. 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