What Are The Best Ventilation Systems For Your Roof?

by | Sep 4, 2024 | Asphalt Shingle Roof Services in Naperville Illinois

Efficient attic ventilation is one of the most important factors for protecting a residential roof and preserving home energy efficiency.

Without adequate ventilation, shingle roofing and many other roofing systems can experience severe damage due to overheating, condensation, and other heat-related problems.

However, with the proper roof vents installed, homeowners can avoid this damage and enjoy a functional, efficient roof for decades.

An experienced roofer can help to analyze ventilation needs based on roof design and other factors and install the most functional vents.

What Are The Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Roof Vents?

Several options are available for homeowners when choosing roofing vents to improve attic ventilation and prevent the damage associated with roof overheating.

Depending on a roof’s size, shape, design, and local climate conditions, roofers may recommend several components to improve roof ventilation most efficiently.

Box Vents - Also known as turtle vents, box vents are simple passive vents that protrude through the top surface of the roof to provide a passive escape for hot attic air. These commonly installed roof vents are economical and efficient but not as suited for homes in regions that receive a good amount of snow, as they can be blocked by snow around the vent, and melting water can drip inside the roof.
Slant Back Vents - Similar to standard box vents, passive slant back vents function the same way while solving the problem of blockages and leaks due to snow melt. These vents are designed with slanted backs that face upward while the vented openings face downward, protecting the vent and the roof from collecting snow and preventing melting snow from dripping into the vents.
Ridge Vents - Ridge vents are small open spaces at the top of roof ridges designed to provide excellent passive ventilation at the top of a pitched roof or roof section. While they are simple to install and easy to blend into the whole roofing installation invisibly, they are only suitable for roof designs with significant ridges where roofers can install a long enough vent. On roofs with shorter ridge sections, additional vents are often necessary.
Solar Vents - When passive ventilation is not enough, whether due to the size and shape of the roof or other factors, a power vent like a solar vent can help. These vents activate when there is high sunlight, using solar power to run their motors that draw hot air out of the under-roof space to prevent it from overheating due to higher temperatures affecting the roof.
Turbine Vents - Also known as whirlybirds, turbine vents are another type of roof vent that draws hot air out of the attic space by spinning the blades inside the turbine. These vents are available in a wind-powered, passive style, or electrically powered style, both of which are highly effective in preventing attic overheating and the roofing damage it can cause.
Soffit Vents - Soffit vents are passive, cool air intake vents that roofers install under the eaves of a roof. They draw in cooler air and are essential for any passive vents, like ridge and box vents, to work efficiently. Without soffit vents, it is harder to ventilate the top of a roof of the hot air collected beneath it.
Deck Vents - Installed into the decking to provide additional cool air intake capability, deck vents are helpful for roofs with no soffit vents or on roof designs where it is impossible to install soffit vents. They can be seamlessly installed into many types of roofing to provide a small, protected opening where cool air can be drawn in and provide upward passive airflow to ventilate the attic.

Watch and Learn About Choosing the Best Roofing Vents

In this informative video, William from Alamo Roofing discusses different types of roofing vents and how to choose and combine them to have a well-ventilated roof.

Protect You Roofing With The Right Ventilation System

Adequate roof ventilation is crucial for preventing an overheated attic overheating and the severe destruction that this can cause.

Protect a residential roof by having an experienced roofer test its ventilation capacity and recommend a more efficient vent system if necessary.

Installing more and better vents is a small price to pay to protect a roofing installation throughout its lifespan while also preserving home energy efficiency!