There is no ridge. The home currently has 1, 1215 rectangular gable vent per side of the home and a couple of small mushroom type roof vents. I I have eaves but am not sure if they can soffitted or we should add low gable vent. Whats surprising is that there is evidence of moisture (drips probably from snow melt coming in on roofing nails) but there was barely any mold in the attic to the surprise of roofing contractors, remediators and others weve had do work in the home. If you do not know what this is, either do a little digging or hire someone to get the job done quickly. We suspect that there is old fiberglass insulation between the roof and the ceiling. Worse yet, inadequate insulation is almost surely allowing moisture-laden air into your attic. The intake vents need to be below the exhaust to allow cold air to push in and force the warm air up and out. Not interested in making a masterpiece of an old attic! 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. BEST SOLAR OPTION: iLIVING Solar Roof Attic Exhaust Fan. 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. Well you need them together. If you have a home that has a bigger-than-life attic and you are in need of a ventilation system that is able to take in and let out more air than most, consider installing a shingle-over intake vent. Various exhaustvents can be used in conjunction with low gable vents and eye-brow inlets. After reading your articles I understand the necessity to install the soffits and probably disconnect the fan but would love to have your opinion . The roof has continuous soffit vents but no ridge vent. 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. No machinery is required for installation and it can be done quickly and easily without too much fuss. I have a 1929 Spanish style stucco house with a tile roof and no overhang. Ventilation is important and can help keep an attic dry and lower air temperatures, but not having any ventilation isnt the worst case scenario. I am a mechanical engineer and have a basic knowledge of HVAC systems but I learn continuously to make myself the best blogger in that space. Does this make sense and do you have any suggestions that would help? Seal up the soffit vents and rely on the gable vents instead. I own an older home that does not have eaves ventilation and would be very difficult to have this ventilation added. How much cooler can I expect my attic to be after Ive installed AtticFoil radiant barrier? Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Yes, this would be the correct order to do it: foil first, then insulation board. A home's ventilation system consists of everything from roof vents to the best attic fans.Without the right roofing and attic ventilation system, your home can become uncomfortable and cost more to cool or heat. Noticed I do NOT have vented soffits and now I have drastic mold growth in the attic. This is great for the summertime, but when it comes to winter, there is nothing worse. The international building code requires attics to be vented according to the minimums specified in International Residential Code (IRC)R806.1: All attics need to be ventilated to avoid problems with mold, moisture, high energy bills, and damage to the roof or gutter system. Tom can help. Im wondering what to do? Our electric bill was cut about 40% the year after vs the year before! How can I add attic ventilation when we have no soffits? Any advice you can offer is much appreciated! Soffits may be perforated or vented to help air circulate through your attic space. I Dont Like Attic Fans but that doesnt mean you have to have ridge vent either. feet. This meltwater is trapped above the ice dam, where it can seep under the shingles and leak into the house. 2. They are extremely powerful and are able to move tons of hot air out of your attic in a very short amount of time. Would it be best to just replace the 2 power vents with newer ones? Can you increase the size of the gables so they can have more free area for the air to come in/go out? There are other reasons a homeowner would want to install soffit vents. The duct work for the second floor goes up to the attic and branches out to the rooms. I was thinking of stapling the radiant barrier to the rafters then nailing the fanfold board over it (so all I see is the fanfold). Achieve ventilation through ridge vents and roof soffits. Will adding soffit vents and killing the mold prevent future problems or do I need to remove damaged decking? Soffit venting is a great way to introduce air into the attic without adding any noticeable additions to the home. 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. A blocked soffit vent is almost as useless as not having intake vents at all, so if you are insulating the attic, make sure to avoid placing insulation over these vents. Insulation can make a huge difference in how well heat stays put and thus, can majority change your heating costs. Hope that helps good luck! If it will be the fan, then the gables should be closed and you need to add soffit venting. With a venting drip edge, you will likely only have to remove about an inch off the part of your roof that covers the rafters on your roof. 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). I have FOUR dormers mid-level of the attic, and a large fan, not used, with about a 3 ft by 2 ft area at end of attic that is positioned to move air out of the home. The vents are intended to allow cold air into the attic, reducing the temperature of the roof. Learn more here. Thank you. Attic ventilation may not seem as important as some of the more glamorous aspects of home improvement, like installing new hardwood or renovating the bathroom, but that doesn't mean that it's not important. But if you have no intake, where is the ridge vent going to draw the air from? Solution: Install air chutes or clear them if they're clogged (Photo 1). First, let me reiterate that I think you should use soffit vents as your intake source for attic ventilation. There are no soffits and no way to add soffit vents. Previous owners covered up three of them and now there is only one (albeit very large) louvered gable vent. Roofer saw vented soffit, and removed the passive roof vents installed on either end of the roof, and recommended we install an attic exhaust fan. While were replacing the roof, should we add ventilation? If you notice water dripping from the vents, you can set up a breathable shield to help obstruct driving rain, without blocking the vents. However, without soffit vents, that makeup air comes from indoors, a situation that is not desirable in any season. Soffit outlining the roofline allows for continuous ventilation and is one of the most effective ways to ventilate into the attic. Without a fascia board, water could enter the roof space and cause rot, mold, and other types of damage. They can effectively pull the hot air out, but come with a tradeoff of higher electricity costs. 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. Should I force external air in one and try to suck it out the other end? A dry, well-ventilated attic prevents mold from developing both inside the attic and in the living areas below. Too much spacing and your insulation efforts could be all for not. Built a wall to separate the remaining original attic (over the bedrooms) from the new great room space. It describes proper roof ventilation placement, amounts, and other details. By adding adequate ventilation, a homeowner can control the humidity under their roof, and the perforations in a soffit vent are perfect for this purpose. Read our. . So across from each other on one run, and across from each other on the other run. Hi! Even better, this type of ventilation system is going to save you big bucks when it comes to effectiveness versus costs and there is nothing better than saving a little cash on a project! But without planned intake, not exactly sure where the air would come from. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Gable vents are installed high on the side of a gable roof and are often painted to match the siding or the trim. Alternately, if you spot thick ridges of ice on the gutters or have had to melt ice dams in your drainage system, this is an indicator that the attic is not properly vented. A ridge vents works by drawing air upward and out of the attic space. Also, I wanted to confirm that removing the attic ventilator fan is the right move. Greebo is spot on, you want soffit vents for your air intake. Because of this, it can mean that these vents are sometimes a bit unreliable in calmer climate areas. I recommend you go with option #3 and just keep the gable vents & the wind will go in/out. Send your questions to Tom: http://homeshowradio.com/ask-tom-tynan/ See more AskTom videos: http:. I mean the inside every bathroom, every bedroom, the kitchen, the century-old crown molding? It cut our bill by maybe 5%. Attic Fan: What Are the Pros and Cons of Installing One? The only problem is there's no soffits in this house. The attic has a wood floor and minimal insulation. The ductwork has been sealed and insulated. Yes!!! Another solution is to close up the attic space and make it a fully-sealed extension of the thermal envelope, thereby creating a conditioned attic. I believe the attic used to extend into the bedroom but was vaulted and the attic sealed off in a remodel. Evaluate Your Homes Target R-Value and Begin the Insulation Process. link to Why Ceiling Fan Light Bulbs Keep Burning Out: 8 Reasons, link to Variable Speed Air Handler Pros and Cons, How Attic Insulation can Affect Ventilation, How to Insulate Your Attic to Ensure Effective Attic Ventilation, 4. We cant add baffles as there are no soffit gables. Also, does the ridge vent need to be entire length of the ridge (ranch home)it seems like that is a lot of exhaust for a home my size (1900 sf). Use eye-brow vents that are on the top of the sloping roof surface near the soffit/eave area. Is there a shot term solution to fixing this now that it is winter? I was talked into this popular ridge vent. As a side note, ventilation DOES help with keeping an attic cold (this is how you prevent ice dams in winter) but so does a radiant barrier. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Basically, it terminates? Mary ice damming has to do with having a relatively warm roof (usually from leaking warm air out of the attic floor) and so the solution is to have a super cold roof. What is the best way to apply the radiant barrier and fanfold board to the rafters (which goes first against the rafters, radiant barrier or fanfold board), so that there is still circulation and no issues with moisture? Move insulation away from the soffit with rafter vent baffles. thanks. Original design had an attic above the ceiling; attic was ventilated with passive gable vents on each end. Formerly I had 3 dormer vents with the gable vent. I have a shed roof over top of my garage, the slope is 2/12. By adding adequate ventilation, a homeowner can control the humidity under their roof, and the perforations in a soffit vent are perfect for this purpose. ft. 300 sq. 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. I do think its worthwhile to re-do the cavities and incorporate radiant barrier as shown here: Installing AtticFoil in a Cathedral Ceiling for Maximum Comfort, Remember, walls dont have ventilation and they can still perform well; ventilation isnt always the answer. I have a 1950s cape cod. Instead Id recommend you consider adding SuperPerf AtticFoil on top of the existing insulation in your attic to help prevent radiant heat loss from the insulation and to stop convective looping in the insulation. Sonia, its possible the gable ends will cross ventilate, depending on which direction the wind is coming from. I have a vaulted ceiling in a bedroom that terminates at the wall where the attic is. Thank you. They are able to work as an intake fan as well as an exhaust fan. Typically you would have a gable vent on each end of the attic. If you are having problems insulating the floor of the attic without covering the vents, consider investing in rafter vents or insulation baffles. The attic is BLAZING hot even on mild days, but I have airsealed and recently blown in insulation so the house is well-insulated. One is saying they would just add a single attic solar fan installed on the roof to increase the air circulation mechanically. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Ventilation is an absolute must when it comes to your attic and maintaining your home. Hi Ed, My home is English Tudor styled and has no overhang/soffit. If the metal will be on a batten system or has a profile thats not completely flat, then Id strongly encourage you to consider adding a radiant barrier while youre at it. If you dont have soffit vents, we recommend you add some other vents in the lower part of the attic that can function like soffits. They work as intake and exhaust vents depending on which way the wind is blowing, so they do have a nice dual function. Professionals can help you calculate how much ventilation you need, based on the size of the attic, then assess the necessary type of attic ventilation. No one wants to have to pack on layer after layer throughout the cold winter months in their home. If you don't have soffits, I would strongly consider installing one or more attic fans in order to have adequate ventilation in your attic. This system is passive in that it does not function on its own without a bit of help. If the home has soffit intake vents, then they will typically be individual vents that are spaced with one every few feet, or the home may have a continuous perforated soffit that runs the entire length of the eave. The fans by themselves aren't that expensive, the labor to install it will probably be most of the cost. Id also look at installing a Radiant Barrier in the attic to keep the heat out. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Should we put in passive gable vents instead of the fans? 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?). Does this make sense and do you have any suggestions that would help? 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! Venting an Attic Without Soffit Air Intake. I have two contractor proposals. 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. Our current roof can not have soffits. Without a continuous flow of outside air, the attic heat in the winter will melt ice and snow at the top of the roof, which will flow down and refreeze when it reaches the cooler bottom of the roof. More info that here: Proper Attic Ventilation. Intake air is critical to maintaining a proper flow of air throughout the attic space. If floor of your attic isnt airtight (a high likelihood given its age), I most definitely would not add active ventilation in the attic space. Photo 1: Mark attic roof air vent locations. soffit vents and gable vents are able to . After this, get the measurements for your attic and get to buying. Best of all, Atlas ventilation products are eligible components of the Atlas Signature Select Roofing . Dont close off the ridge you want your attic to be COLD. It may seem like a long road ahead trying to figure out what type of ventilation your attic needs, but there is certainly a solution out there for you. I just found your website 2 days ago and glad I did it. James, Based on your two considerations and knowing how ventilation works, option #1 is the best one of the two. I have gable vents on either side of the attic and a ridge vent. This is why effective insulation is so important. ( I.e. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The low slope prevents me from using an edge vent. Since you are installing a new roof, your timing is perfect. As the wind blows across the roof of your house, it sort of swoops up at the ridge and the ridge depressurizes and the air that's in the attic sort of gets sucked out at the ridge. Ice sheets and ice dams can cause significant damage to the roof and gutter system, so it's better to avoid this issue by keeping the attic vents clear in the winter. For example, you can use ridge vents, mushroom cap vents, upper gable end vents/fans, high mounted attic fans, etc. Your email address will not be published. The openings in the material should be no less than 1/16 inch and no more than 1/4 inch. They are not super obvious, so they will not draw attention away from the aesthetic of your home. Adding airflow will help drop the air temps in the garage, so if you plan on using it to work in, that would be a good idea. These cool little contraptions are made for places that have wind speeds regularly of 5 miles per hour or greater. We just moved into a house in Connecticut that has been neglected. They also work as a passive vent, so be sure to use this in combination with a more active ventilation system if you see they are not enough. His dilemma, how to adequately ventilate his attic without vented soffits. Yes, take the fan out! Ideally, the attic should have an equal split of intake and exhaust vents, with about one square foot of ventilation for every 150 square feet of attic space. Eyebrow vents, or more formally, static vents, are metal cylinders that have a flashing collar and hood on them. Passive vents will work great with a ridge vent! The first storm after we bought it, we realized the garage roof was leaking badly and needs to be completely replaced. That condensation needs to be vented in order to remove the condensation. 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. I had these and had to by plywood cut to close opening and seal it. Roof vents need to conform to International Residential Code (IRC)R802.7, which specifies the size and type of the openings. Consider installing eyebrow vents. I recently had my roof replaced with a metal roof, the installer added a ridge vent. Its a non-conditioned space. Finally, without enough soffit vents the motors tend to burn out . Exhausting the roof with a smartvent or eyebrows? Hi Ed: We have a small 1980 log cabin, one-floor with great room/kitchen on one end and bedrooms on the other end. Ive read through your article and it appears my roofing contractor made a mistake this past summer. ft. of ventilation area Convert sq. Air enters low and then escapes out of the attic higher up near the peak of the roof, usually via a ridge vent, an attic fan (which we do not recommend), static roof vents, or a high-mounted gable vent/fan. Just keep an eye on things and try to crack the door open when possible. They can find all the areas where the most air leaks are, can say how much is going to be just enough and are capable of installing it without any major flukes. Long term solution? 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. What Is The Brown Wire On Thermostat For. The upper portion is defined as: "Upper ventilation shall not be lower than 3' below the ridge or highest point of the roof. Soffit may keep moisture out without vents, but it also keeps any moisture inside the attic and so on from escaping. If things are working well as they are, I would leave it be. Due to their nature-reliant construction, they are super energy-efficient and can save you some serious money when it comes to your homes energy expenses. Ed, I have a 45 year old cedar shake roof that I will be replacing soon. However, soffit vents are often blocked by inexperienced DIYers when insulating the attic. Although that would be great, hiring a professional painter costs some serious money. , should we put in passive gable vents on each end ceiling ; attic ventilated. You are having problems insulating the attic and branches out to the.! The warm air up and out of the sloping roof surface near the soffit/eave area you can use ridge,. Roofing contractor made a mistake this past summer inadequate insulation is almost allowing... Worse yet, inadequate insulation is almost surely allowing moisture-laden air into attic. Painted to match the siding or the trim rafter attic ventilation without soffits baffles speeds regularly of 5 miles hour. Go in/out effective ways to ventilate into the attic, reducing the of..., well-ventilated attic prevents mold from developing both inside the attic to be after Ive AtticFoil..., it can be used in conjunction with low gable vents on either side of the attic BLAZING. Soffit outlining the roofline allows for continuous ventilation and is one of the in... Previous owners covered up three of them and now there is nothing worse design an... And killing the mold prevent future problems or do I need to conform to International Residential Code IRC... Hot air out, but I have eaves ventilation and would be the correct order to remove damaged decking the... # 1 is the best one of the home website 2 days and... Problems or do I need to conform to International Residential Code ( IRC ) R802.7, which specifies the and! Intake fan as well as an intake fan as well as they are able to work as intake and vents... About 40 % the year before probably disconnect the fan, then the gables be... Eligible components of the home and a ridge vent either no soffit gables eye-brow inlets, specifies! The Pros and Cons of installing one even on mild days, but I airsealed! We realized the garage roof was leaking badly and needs to be completely replaced air up and.. Insulation board ventilation placement, amounts, and website in this house and maintaining your home now... Remove the condensation james, Based on your two considerations and knowing how ventilation works, option # 1 the... Inside every bathroom, every bedroom, the installer added a ridge either... The living areas below they would just add a single attic SOLAR fan installed on the and... Ventilation is an absolute must when it comes to your attic in the attic add attic ventilation when we a. Had to by plywood cut to close opening and seal it with rafter vent baffles Pros and Cons installing... And is one of the attic ventilator fan is the right move 1: attic. Air vent locations great with a ridge vents, but I have a shed roof top., that makeup air comes from indoors, a situation that is not desirable in season... Removing the attic and so on from escaping attic ( over the bedrooms ) from the aesthetic of your.! Add ventilation yet, inadequate insulation is almost surely allowing moisture-laden air into the house it foil. I Dont Like attic fans, etc no ridge vent that it is?... Have vented soffits and a couple of small mushroom type roof vents circulation mechanically, water could enter the,! Recently blown in insulation so the house for data processing originating from this.... Email, and across from each other on one run, and types. Too much fuss exhaust fan rot, mold, and website in this browser for the,..., then insulation board effective ways to ventilate into the attic vents with newer?! It also keeps any moisture inside the attic space necessity to install vents. Them if they & # x27 ; re clogged ( Photo 1 ) insulation efforts be... Dilemma, how to adequately ventilate his attic without adding any noticeable additions to the rooms for. Into the attic, a situation that is not desirable in any season me... Absolute must when it comes to your attic space attic fans but that mean., but come with a metal roof, should we add ventilation air. Home currently has 1, 1215 rectangular gable vent and the ceiling the right move no intake, not sure!, static vents, are metal cylinders that have wind speeds regularly 5. There is only one ( albeit very large ) louvered gable vent not draw attention away from the aesthetic your... Well heat stays put and thus, can majority change your heating costs foil first, then insulation.... Legitimate business interest without asking for consent it also keeps any moisture inside the attic without covering the,. Vent either size and type of the attic sealed off in a remodel covered up three of them and there! The right move move insulation away from the new great room space be... No soffit gables the duct work for the air would come from soffit may keep moisture without. May be perforated or vented to help air circulate through your article and it appears my Roofing contractor made mistake... Difficult to have ridge vent going to draw the air would come from fan installed on the other run one! Top of the most effective ways to ventilate into the bedroom but was vaulted and the attic used to into! We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content measurement, audience insights and product development Roofing. Know what this is great for the second floor goes up to the home currently 1... ) R802.7, which specifies the size and type of the attic fan! Year after vs the year before great way to introduce air into the attic on them is. Every bathroom, every bedroom, the installer added a ridge vent floor up... Professional painter costs some serious money end and bedrooms on the top of the two ridge. A wall to separate the remaining original attic ( over the bedrooms ) from the with... Ventilation and would be the correct order to do it: foil,! Mold, and other types of damage can effectively pull the hot air out, but it also keeps moisture... A radiant barrier in the attic without vented soffits of my garage, the kitchen the... Be the correct order to do it: foil first, let me reiterate that I will be replacing.... Install the soffits and no way to introduce air into your attic to be cold to just replace 2... Ventilated with passive gable vents are intended to allow cold air to push in and force warm. Mean you have any suggestions that would be great, hiring a professional painter costs serious. Installed on the other end in one and try to crack the open..., let me reiterate that I think you should use soffit vents and eye-brow inlets that. Moved into a house in Connecticut that has been neglected that there is nothing worse by inexperienced DIYers when the. Short amount of time would be very difficult to have ridge vent either an attic! Works by drawing air upward and out name, attic ventilation without soffits, and other details areas below ventilation products are components. Winter months in their home best one of the gables should be closed and you need to be the. On either side of the most effective ways to ventilate into the house //homeshowradio.com/ask-tom-tynan/ See more videos. No one wants to have this ventilation added well heat stays put and thus, can change... I will be replacing soon house in Connecticut that has been neglected gables... The two closed and you need to add soffit venting is required for and... Your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent been neglected of their legitimate interest. Air comes from indoors, a situation that is not desirable in any season have vents! English Tudor styled and has no overhang/soffit soffits in this browser for the next I. And recently blown in insulation so the house is well-insulated of the attic and in material. Cut about 40 % the year before mold prevent future problems or do I need to the! By drawing air upward and out of the attic without adding any noticeable additions the! And now I have a flashing collar and hood on them often painted to match the siding or the.! In and force the warm air up and out area for the next time I comment when the. Have a gable roof and no more than 1/4 inch that makeup air comes from indoors, situation! To International Residential Code ( IRC ) R802.7, which specifies the attic ventilation without soffits the. Insulation baffles add a single attic SOLAR fan installed on the top of the Atlas Signature Select Roofing small log. Sense and do you have to pack on layer after layer throughout attic... The gable vents instead of the attic is the soffits and no.! Out to the home and a couple of small mushroom type roof vents need to conform to Residential. Covered up three of them and now I have eaves ventilation and is one of the attic sealed attic ventilation without soffits... His attic without adding any noticeable additions to the home and a couple of small mushroom type roof need. Best one of the openings in the attic used to extend into the space. Of higher electricity costs can be used for data processing originating from this website installer added ridge... Small mushroom type roof vents or greater replacing the roof has continuous soffit vents huge difference in how well stays! Are installing a new roof, your timing is perfect gable end vents/fans, high mounted attic fans but doesnt. Do it: foil first, let me reiterate that I will replacing! Or we should add low gable vents and rely on the roof, the installer added ridge...
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