Why Is Proper Attic Ventilation Important In The Summer
In the warmer months, your attic can get very hot. If its not properly ventilated, it can heat the upstairs of your home to the point where its uncomfortable. It may even get too hot to be upstairs at all during the day, only cooling when the sun goes down.
In the summer, your vents should be pulling in fresh air and allowing the hot air to escape. If the temperature outside is 90°F, the temperature in your attic can get as high as 170F.
If the temperature inside your attic is 170F, then the heat at your attic floor can be as high as 140F. The temperature in the rooms below your attic will be uncomfortable. Your AC will have to work harder to try to keep your home cool which will cause your energy bills to rise.
Poor ventilation in the summer can cause heat to build up in your attic which in turn burns your roof up. The roof decking can delaminate quickly. This means the adhesives in the decking has deteriorated and causes it to become brittle. It also causes your roofs shingles to become brittle, crack or curl.
Making sure your attic is properly ventilated will help you get the full life out of your roof.
When To Call A Professional
If you plan to install the vent yourself, be sure you’re really up for the challenge. This project requires work on a tall ladder and working atop the roof while using hand and power tools. If you have any anxiety over heights or are not quite sure you know how to handle your tools, consider hiring a professional.
Be aware that a ridge vent is only one part of properly ventilating your attic space and roof. For a ridge vent to work properly, it relies on passive airflow, or intake air, coming into the attic space via soffit or gable vents or other attic ventilation.
Our Van Roof Vent System
In addition to our van conversion vent fan we have another van roof vent, but this isnt a fan, its a rooflight vent. Essentially a window in the roof. But has some small built in vents that can remain open whatever the weather.
Each is at opposite ends of the van, so we use our MaxxAir fan to expel air and the MaxxAir Skymaxx Rooflight to draw fresh air in. We also have two windows in the living area of our van which draw fresh air in while open.
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Decide The Kind Of Vents That You Need
Vents come in many types, and each has its usage. There are whirlybird vents installed on the roof for air vents to let out the air. You may also have a ventilation system on the ridge of the roof, which is usually slatted. In this article, I am mostly discussing plumbing vents instead of air vents .
General Idea On Exhaust Route Determination

Its compulsory to have the exhaust fan vent outside. If attic wise access isnt available you need to think about sidewall. Learning the right way on how to install a bathroom vent through a wall will be necessary then. Most likely, the process is complicating so its better to contact professionals here.
Now with the right access to attic, using a fan vent on a gable wall or roof is just the right thing to do. Dont let the exhaust happen into the open attic, however. This will invite moisture build-up on the roofs underside.
Also, if you have bathroom exhaust fans with light then there should be an additional or double switch. So, you can easily turn it on or off. In other cases, you need to set up new wiring for operating a double switch.
Tools & Materials Required.
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Why Install Campervan Ventilation
Theres a number of reasons why having a good ventilation system in such a small living space is important. Getting rid of bad smells and temperature control are integral to comfort. But more than that, circulation of fresh air is a safety must for using a gas cooker and important for controlling water vapour.
Without campervan ventilation water vapour from cooking, van shower steam and breathing will hangaround in the air and cause serious condensation issues leading to mould and rust.
There are various combinations to achieve ventilation in your van build, but all of the best ways undoubtedly include a van conversion roof fan.
Do You Think Your Attic Isn’t Properly Ventilated
There should never be a poorly ventilated attic. Sadly, it is very common in North America. If you think you have improper ventilation, you may want to do some research to find a qualified, reputable roofing contractor to do an assessment on your attic and roof.
When looking for a potential roofing contractor you need to ask the right questions and get the right answers back to figure out if they’re a reputable roofing company. Luckily, we have a checklist that does just that.
We here at Bill Ragan Roofing use our highly trained team of roofing experts to help people with their attic ventilation for over 30 years. We take pride in our award winning service and our customers trusting us.
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What Does Attic And Roof Ventilation Do
Attic ventilation is an important part of the way air flows through your attic, pushing it through the area instead of just letting it sit stagnantly. Roof vents help outside air pass through and out of your attic, which removes excess heat and moisture from the air inside of your attic as it moves through. Air is taken in through your roof soffits and eaves, exhausted through the roof at the ridge cap or through a roof vent. This creates the right air balance in the upper crawl space of your home, playing an important role in keeping your home comfortable and increases the quality of living indoors.
Putting In Ridge Vents
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Roof Vents: Three Questions To Ask Before You Install
When deciding the particulars about a new roof for your home, youll have to decide what kind of roof vents to install to allow proper ventilation in your attic. But why do you even need roof vents? And how many does one roof need anyway? What kind of roof vents are there and what would work best for your home? Heres the answers to some of the key questions so you can pick the roof vents that are right for you:
Why would a new roof need vents in the first place?
A roof vents best-known benefit is that it helps keep your attic cooler during warmer months. If youve crawled up into your attic on a hot day, you know this attribute alone is reason enough to install as many roof vents as you can. In addition, lowering the temperature in your attic and increasing the air flow helps prevent damage, mold, rot and many other repairs homeowners face with an unventilated roof.
But, adding vents arent just about controlling the attic temp, here are more reasons your roof needs proper ventilation to help protect roofs and shingles:
How many roof vents is enough?
Of course, every house in every different climate is different, so we can look at your specific need and assess exactly how many your home needs.
What kind of roof vents are there? Which kind do I need?
Just like every home is different, every roof needs a slightly different plan when it comes to roof vents. Heres an overview of the different kind of vents that we recommend and install for our homes:
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Wind turbines
How To Determine The Amount Of Ventilation You Need
Before installing any roof vents on your home, determine the amount of ventilation youll need. You can check if your attic is underventilated by following these four steps:
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Clean The Surface Of The Metal Roofing Panel
How to install roof vent cap. Working from under the soffit, your roofing professional will mark the size of the vent and then cut a hole slightly smaller than the unit , between the rafters. The cap shingles often are installed on top of a continuous ridge vent.the constant exposure to weather weakens a gas furnace roof vents outer liner and termination cap.the most common place to install intake vents is beneath the roof eaves within the soffit. Seal the underside of your vent with sealant and make sure it is sturdy.
After this step is done, attach the other parts as well. The next thing youre going to want to do is finally attach your roof vent to your roof. Next, position your ladder against your home and climb up to your roof.
Exact rates depend on the type, size, and number of units you choose to install. Professional roofing) how to install soffit vents. If you are installing roof vents, it is good to consider purchasing a roof vent cover or cap for your vent.
Keepa roof jack vent caps for flat roofs First, head up to your attic and determine where you want to install your roof vent. Cut a 5 diameter hole through roof boards and shingles.
Round back roof jack vent caps for pitched roofs They protect the vent against harsh weather conditions. Add any connectors and end caps that came with your ridge vent system to ensure the vent is watertight.
Press the cap into the foam and drive in.
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Roof Vent Roof Vents Installation Home Appliances
Why Is Proper Attic Ventilation Important In The Winter

When I tell people that proper ventilation is more important in the winter than it is in the summer, they are always surprised. What most people dont know is that heat and moisture from the homes interior travel into the cold attic, which causes condensation and all the problems that can come with that.
Condensation collects on the underside of the roof which then causes the decking to swell. If the decking holds onto this moisture, it will become wavy. If the decking is wavy, guess what? Your roof will also be wavy!
Because the decking is wet, over a short period of time, it will also lose its ability to hold the nails and may lose its load bearing capacity. This can also cause mold and mildew which can contribute to serious health issues.
Plus, moist wood rots. And insects such as termites love moist, rotting wood.
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Dryer Vent Cleaning Process
Roof dryer cleanup is a complicated, multi-step process that needs the services of a professional.
Here is a more straightforward method of cleaning up a roof dryer vent
Cleaning a roof dryer vent is not a DIY job and should be left to a professional cleaning service. This video demonstrates why.
How To Install Ridge Vents On Roof
Be careful not to cut through the trusses or wood board. Exact rates depend on the type, size, and number of units you choose to install.
what does a ridge vent on a roof look like This is what
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Install The Ventilation Baffle
Finally, to ensure that the airway to the vent remains open, staple a ventilation baffle to the plywood sheathing in each rafter bay. The molded polystyrene baffles, available at home centers and lumberyards for about $1 each, form channels that hold insulation at bay and direct incoming air upward.
Are Powered Roof Vents Worth The Cost
Powered roof vents or attic fans work with a thermostat. When the heat builds up past the setpoint, a fan turns on, venting the warm air outside. While some people have these installed on their home roof to keep the attic from being too hot, they have downsides there, as they can fight with air conditioning.
For a shed, you need to have electricity run to your shed. You also may not be able to tell if the fan has stopped working unless you find that it just wont go on even when you adjust the thermostat.
Solar-powered models are available, but you can have really hot days that are too cloudy to allow the fan to work, rendering them less than useful. Also, many models tested really dont move that much air.
Actually, powered roof vents were designed to keep attics from getting too hot, not for cooling a shed. There really isnt enough advantage in using one for your shed to justify the cost, even if you already have power run to your shed. Non-powered solutions will do just fine for a shed.
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Best Van Roof Vent Fan
There are numerous, but to keep it simple here were just going to compare the top three camper roof vents on the market Fiamma Turbo Vent, Dometic Fantastic Fan 7350 and MaxxAir MAXXFAN Deluxe.
Each make and model has different features such as an automatic rain sensor, remote control, adjustable speeds and climate control. But they are all electric camper vent fans, because really thats the only way to go.
Fiamma | |
££ | £££ |
We opted for the MaxxAir MAXXFAN Deluxe 7500K mainly because it can still be operated in the rain. As opposed to the Dometic Fantastic Fan 7350 which just automatically closes and shuts off in the rain. But then needs to be manually turned back on.
Being in the rainy UK, it seemed like a pretty essential feature. We dont, but if you travel with pets that you intend to leave alone in the van, a van roof vent fan that has both thermostatic climate control and can be operated in the rain is crucial.
You also have the choice of a white or smoked lid with the MaxxAir MAXXFAN Deluxe.