Gable Vent Installation Mistakes to Avoid

A gable vent provides efficient ventilation in the attic, to keep off heat and humidity during summer as well as moist air during winter. If left unventilated, heat may cause structural damage in the attic with time. Moist air will on the other hand cause the formation of mold and mildew that is a great health risk for the occupants of your home. Installing a gable vent is a simple procedure that you can carry out by yourself. However, you need to ensure that you avoid mistakes that will compromise the effectiveness of your attic ventilation.

Assuming the Size of Gable Vent Needed

The gable vent you purchase should be sufficient to cover the size of your attic. It is a great mistake to assume that any gable vent will work for your attic. The area of the vent is specified on the packaging as the “net free area”. The gable vent should provide 1 square inch of outlet and inlet area for every square foot of the attic. You can also install 2 gable vents, one at each end of the attic to aid in covering the entire attic area for proper ventilation. At the same time, getting a vent that is too large for the attic is a mistake. A large vent will draw all hot air from the rest of the house and bring it up into the attic. The vent will then blow the air back into the home and leave the attic and the entire home hotter as opposed to cooling it off.

Purchasing a Substandard Vent

Purchasing a cheap, poor quality vent is another huge mistake. Such a gable vent will eventually cost you in repairs, as it will not perform as required. A bad vent will lead to structural damage of the attic. It will not control heat, humidity and moist air effectively. Gable vents are made from a variety of materials that include metal, wood and vinyl. All of these materials have different properties. A gable vent should be durable and appealing as well.

Using Improper Tools and Materials

Though installing a gable vent is easy, you will make a big mistake if you do not use the proper tools and materials required to mount the vent onto the attic. In addition, you should ensure that you meet insulation requirements besides placing the main intake vent appropriately.

Combining Exhaust Vents

Deciding to combine a gable vent with a different type of exhaust vent is another mistake you should avoid. When you install 2 exhaust vents in the attic, they draw air from each other as opposed to drawing air from the intake vents. As a result, the attic ventilation will not be effective in cooling the area. At the same time, you should create a balance between the exhaust vents and the intake vents. To achieve proper ventilation in the attic, the exhaust vents must have adequate intake in order to allow sufficient flow of air into the attic.