Ridge Vent vs. Attic Fan for Attic Ventilation

Installing a ridge vent or an attic fan can be a good way of getting adequate ventilation in your home. While any number of vent types can ensure that you have enough air travelling into your home, you will want to choose the one that is best for your situation.  An attic fan is also an important way of getting a good air flow into your home, so first-timers may find it difficult to decide between types of vent such as a ridge vent, or an attic fan, and the differences is really between the action of the ventilation systems themselves.

The Pros and Cons of the Ridge Vent

Like attic fans, ridge vents are designed to help release air which is already inside the attic. This is different from say a soffit vent, which is placed at a low position in the attic roof, and causes air to travel upwards into the vent. The ridge vent instead causes hot air to move through the vent, and escape into the outside air. If you are looking for a high vent, then the ridge vent is a good option. This type of vent moves air through the attic using a passive system, which involves the currents of air moving through the vent, rather than being driven through. This can mean that the vent only works when there is a moderate-to-high wind, or under certain other conditions, which can make it unworkable some of the time. However, when you combine the ridge vent with a soffit or floor vent, then you will have a suitable and reliable way of venting your home.

The Pros and Cons of the Attic Fan

The benefits of the attic fan involve its use of an active system, which actually forces air through the ventilation, and out into the atmosphere. This can be a great benefit when you have an attic which catches a lot of heat, for example, or which has been heavily insulated so that a passive system would not move enough air to ventilate the attic properly. On the downside, the attic vent is usually a motorized device, which means that it uses electricity, and also needs regular maintenance to keep it working properly. In addition, the placing of the attic fan is more complicated if you have outlet vents. Placing an attic fan too close to a ridge vent can cause air to be drawn in through the ridge vent, meaning that less air is pushed out. Attic fans can also produce a sound which can be very irritating to sensitive people.

Choosing a Ridge Vent or an Attic Fan

When you are deciding between a ridge vent or an attic fan, you should consider the needs of the attic. If you have suitable inlet venting, a ridge vent might be a better choice, while larger attics and those with poor ventilation might be better served by an attic fan.