Any thoughts would be much appreciated. So now the remaining attic only has a single gable vent with no intake. The other wants to keep the current type of vents which are turtle vents. More info that here: Proper Attic Ventilation. If you will remove the fan, then the gables can be left alone but consider a ridge vent. ft. of ventilation area Convert sq. ft. of airflow per 150 sq. We are moving quickly to replace the 1950s Balsam Wool insulation (maybe R2 value) with new fiberglass and heat shield foil on attic floor and then replacing the three-tab roof with GAF architectural shingles, probably black. 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. 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. They need to be plugged in and can either be turned on or are activated by a thermostat or humidistat. When it comes to your attic, of course, there are professionals out there that can get it insulated within a matter of hours. Read our. Ken writes: "I finally was able to make contact with the manufacturer of the open foam like material used under my ridge . The attic floor is also insulated. 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. More info on this here: Attic Ventilation Dont Mess It Up. This ventilation system is one that is typically used for those attics that really refuse to comply with more passive methods, so use this as a back up if you need a little push for something that is already existing. Will two gables and a roof vent be sufficient. A couple of cans of spray foam can go a long way toward helping keep things sealed up air tight. This can be a great solution for small spaces that dont have secondary ventilation systems. 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. Too much spacing and your insulation efforts could be all for not. In order to understand why attic ventilation is important to the safety and continued function of your home, it's necessary to grasp the basics of attic ventilation. This time, they added ice and water shield all over (eave to ridge). Essentially bring air through the high interior ceiling and pass it through the attic with gable vent outtake? Look at edge vents. Finally, without enough soffit vents the motors tend to burn out . Also does the roofer has to provide you with the exact calculation of the ventilation needed? The other two across from each other (lets call it the longer run from the front to back of the house were smaller and higher up. Why Ceiling Fan Light Bulbs Keep Burning Out: 8 Reasons. See what I mean here? You made no mention of converting the attic space into livable space, so that does not make sense to add it there. If you suspect asbestos, be sure to leave it and get it tested before deciding to go forward with the removal. Yes!!! Cool air enters the attic through the intake vents, but hot air doesn't generally exit through the intake vents, with the exception of gable roof vents. 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 also had gable fans in the attic space with the worst of the mold that were manually turned on. Will adding soffit vents and killing the mold prevent future problems or do I need to remove damaged decking? The roof has continuous soffit vents but no ridge vent. Weve had several roofers out for suggestions and so far none have worked. Id look at adding some lower side intake vents. I have a split level home with a gable roof. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Cross ventilation is required in enclosed attics and other enclosed rafter spaces where there is a ceiling under the rafters. Attic Ventilation Without Soffits Homes without room for soffit vents usually use gable vents or shingled vents to take advantage of passive ventilation. Basically, its a slot cut in the deck a couple feet up from the drip edge that will act like soffit vents an allow air to get into the attic. Once you have decided the type of insulation that you will be using, you want to rid your attic of any old existing insulation or make sure that what is there is working. I had not heard of the single fan before as a solution. You may think of your attic as nothing more than a creepy, dark spot that may have spiders and bats, but a healthy attic is vital to a healthy home. Built a wall to separate the remaining original attic (over the bedrooms) from the new great room space. TOM: It's a system. 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?). Because hot air rises, if you have an improperly insulated attic, that hot air is able to escape through the attic and thus, out of your home. The low slope prevents me from using an edge vent. For more information on ventilation and moisture control, read this article I wrote on Proper Attic Ventilation. Soffits may be perforated or vented to help air circulate through your attic space. Loose insulation is used for those really pesky areas that are hard to cover. Bill, I would discuss these issues with your roofer and ask them what options you have with the new roof. TOM: So here's the solution, OK? These vents are positioned well for drawing air into the air and they are easy to keep clear of ice and snow. If youre looking to keep things cooler in the She-Shed, you need to consider sealing it up air tight and using some A/C too. Also, I wanted to confirm that removing the attic ventilator fan is the right move. What Is The Brown Wire On Thermostat For. There's a type of vent called a drip-edge vent. Hi Ed, Hoping you can help me out with my situation. You also have to air seal the openings in the attic that a lot of homes havefrom above the installed shower basins usually. What kind? (there are other brands/models) If you have a gable roof, Id use a ridge vent. 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. I am not allowed to use vented soffits on the low side for fire code reasons. 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. A venting drip edge is actually pretty easy to install as well and very often, only takes a little bit of grappling with your roof to get the job done. If you want to bulk up your r-value, you should add it to the attic floor, where you already have r-value or else omit the board all together. This should be a National codes requirement on all new housing!! 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. If you are really wanting to make sure that your attic is not sucking energy from your home and can properly ventilate, you first want to start with the attic floor. Homes that do not have a gable roof or space for soffit vents are generally designed with shingled intake vents or roof edge vents, positioned near the bottom of the roof. It is able to conform more easily than batt insulation and thus, can get into areas that other types of insulation normally could not. 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? Ridge vents can work without soffit vents; however, this won't be very energy efficient. I have a vaulted ceiling in a bedroom that terminates at the wall where the attic is. 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. 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. This is a huge energy waster that I discuss more in this article: Comfort and Energy Efficiency Tips. I have a 1929 Spanish style stucco house with a tile roof and no overhang. There are two gable vents but they are obstructed by a chimney. 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. KELLY: That's correct. More info here: Basics of Attic Ventilation. After this, get the measurements for your attic and get to buying. If you notice water dripping from the vents, you can set up a breathable shield to help obstruct driving rain, without blocking the vents. If you block the vents, the heat in the attic will warm the roof, causing any snow to melt. Problem 2: Aluminum or vinyl soffits (eaves) installed over plywood soffits that don't have venting holes. Batt is the type of insulation that looks more like a blanket and it is easily pulled off and laid on. Well you need them together. I have 2 gable vents on the front of my house and 2 power vents that are located 18 and 40 away from the gable vents. 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. This is great for the summertime, but when it comes to winter, there is nothing worse. This article is part of the series ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS and also ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE. Various exhaustvents can be used in conjunction with low gable vents and eye-brow inlets. No, I dont think the lack of vented air is the problem here its the radiant heat coming in from the roof and it having a pretty direct route to get right into the room. Maybe youve considered adding a ridge vent because youve heard theyre a good choice but youre not sure since you dont have soffits. Short of me removing all the wonderful soffit work I did, is there anything I can do? Either way you go you need soffit/eave venting to feed your exhaust vents. No machinery is required for installation and it can be done quickly and easily without too much fuss. If the attic is separated or segmented, each separate section should be ventilated. We live in Philadelphia suburbs in a typical builder home built in 1983 of 2314 sq ft. We changed our roof 18 years ago when moving in and its time to replace it again with better performing shingles. Even more, it is going to do a more effective job at insulating those spaces. 9 times out of 10 its gonna come from your leaky attic floor. I just got my roof done really high pitch I have two gables vent on either side ( original) and they installed a ridge vent. So, if your attic is 20' x 40' then the area is 800 square feet. 50 Pint vs 70 Pint Dehumidifier: Which Is Best? There are no soffit vents, so Im not sure what the intake design was; air seemed to just pass through from end to end. However, if your attic has blocked soffit vents and is not well-sealed from the rest of the house, attic fans will suck cool conditioned air up out of the house and into the attic. The name is nice, isnt it? Our attic had a big mold problem that was just remediated. Move the flex tubing (from bathroom fan) to exit via a new hole a few feet below the existing gable vent. Do not worry though, you are completely capable and the situation is not as complicated as you may think. I believe the attic used to extend into the bedroom but was vaulted and the attic sealed off in a remodel. It describes proper roof ventilation placement, amounts, and other details. Thank you, Bill. The home currently has 1, 1215 rectangular gable vent per side of the home and a couple of small mushroom type roof vents. I had additional blown insulation added, although I was told by the insulator that my R value was already quite good and that things appeared to be sealed properly in the attic. There are other reasons a homeowner would want to install soffit vents. If your attic is warm and warms the bottom of a cold roofline, you can create condensation with the right conditions so I would caution you against this. 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. 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