How Does Soffit Venting Work?

Soffit venting is a type of venting method that allows the natural flow of air inside an attic or under a roof. Typically, soffit vents are installed to minimize the moisture that may cause a leaking roof. During humid days, moisture inside the attic may build up and condense to form liquid water. This water may cause a considerable amount of damage to the home. To ensure that moisture build-up is minimized, soffit venting and installation should be considered in line with ridge venting or any other type of exhaust venting.

The Purpose of Attic Ventilation

Proper attic ventilation protects a home and the occupants inside a home from the effects of temperature swings. During the summer, hot air inside the attic causes the room temperature inside the home to rise as well. Soffit venting reduces the temperature build up in the attic during hot summer days. This reduces the need to use air conditioning inside a home and also helps protect the home from damages caused by extreme heat.

During the winter season, attic ventilation ensures that the roof sheathing is subject to uniform temperature and thus reduces the chances of damage caused by snow build up concentrated on certain areas in the roofing. However, the primary purpose of attic ventilation with the use of soffit venting and other important venting installations is the reduction of moisture inside the attic that may cause roof leaks.

How Soffit Vents Work

Warm air and moisture usually builds up in the attic. Without proper ventilation, the hot air and moisture will never escape the attic. Heat will causes the room temperature in other parts of the house to rise as well and the moisture will form droplets of water.

Soffit vents are installed in the lower side bottom of the roof to draw in cooler air from the outside to allow warmer air on the inside to move out of the exhaust vents. These exhaust vents are located on the peak of the roof, usually in the form of a ridge vent. Soffit vents are never installed without other types of vents installed at a higher location. The vents located on a higher location will draw air and moisture out of the attic and increases heat and moisture loss.

Soffit Vents and Other Vents

Soffit venting is a natural way of providing ventilation in an attic. It can be installed with other natural vents such as ridge vents and gable vents, or with power vents. Power vents make use of electrical energy to ventilate the attic. Power vents can either be connected to a power source or to a solar panel.

Either way, these vents provide better ventilation in line with soffit vents. As the venting draws cooler air from the outside, the power vents pull suck the air from the inside the attic to the outside. Proper attic ventilation always comes with the use of effective inlet and outlet vents. Soffit vents provides inlet vents, while power vents or ridge vents provide outlet vents.