My ridge vent is letting water into the attic, so I need to get it replaced. The cost to redo the ridge vent is the same as the cost to install a power vent. Is there a reason to prefer one system to the other?

The house is an 1850 sq ft box (2 floors over a garage) -- the point being that I have a fairly small attic on a tall house, which you'd think would be a pretty good place for a ridge vent. It does get awfully hot in the summer, though (I don't know how hot).

I've asked several people (the roofing guy, an architecht) but nobody seems to have an opinion. Does anybody else?

 

Let's assume your attic area is 1000 sq. ft. The rule is 1: 300 with a vapor barrier and 1 : 150 without one. Let's assume you have one then the rule applied is 1000/300 = 3.33 sq. ft required. Half of that goes to your soffit area so the high vents should equal 1.67 sq. ft. Assuming you have gable ends, if you put 1 sq. ft. vents on both ends, you have more than adequate free venting.

If you have a hip roof, with no gables, then you can install 2 one sq. ft. roof vents. Less expensive and still does the job.

A power ventilating fan is only used for the summer and not the winter. In either case the fan would be atached to the vent, either the gable or roof. Which ever applies.

 

Resercon,

Curious what your opinion on these solar powered roof vents I have been seeing at the remodeling shows. They seem to run around 400 dollars. Seems like a good idea to me, but havent really seen them utilized to get a experienced response from anyone.

Thanks Jim

 

Solar power roof attic fans have been around for some time. It's just lately that the price has come down to where it's affordable. The truth is that a gable fan only uses around $12. a year. It'll take over 30 years to get your money back. I have installed quite a few of the new ones. The first one I did, when I was installing it, the fan came on. It only goes to say, one should read the instructions before attempting to install.

I tell everyone who wants me to install one for them, that in my opinion, it's not worth it. I do the math for them and they still insist. I don't argue with someone who's paying me to do something. I even point out that the fan is dependant upon the weather, if it's sunny out, it works and if it's not, it doesn't work.

Now if you're interested in solar, have you ever heard of photovoltaic roofing shingle? The U.S Dept. of Energy has a program called "Million Solar Roofs Program". What I like about this program are the incentives and the DOE is not targeting areas like California and Arizona. What most people dislike about it is the price the local utility buys back the electricity verses what they charge you for electricity. The prices are not the same. But they soon get over it. Everyone I know that has done this is very happy with it. That is not true with solar water heater, pools, heating and hot tubs. Though you may find some one who likes it, I haven't found anyone.

If you're wondering if mechanical ventilation of any sort, like solar, would have a benefit during the winter, the answer is no. Nothing beats nature and free venting is based upon perfect balance, which is the best way to describe nature.

 

Not that builder grade crap !!
Make sure it's one of those "shingle over" types with external baffling.
Power vents use more power than they save, studies have provent it
Ridge vents are the way to go in your case.

 

Greetings,

If your present ridge vent is letting moisture in, then, it is either a cheap unit, was not installed correctly or you do not have enough soffit vent area. Soffit opening should meet or exceed the ridge vent free area opening. Insufficent opening will cause ridge vent to short circuit and draw moisture thru the ridge vent.

If you chose to replace ck "cor-a-vent.com"

Improper installation could include, Not a wide enough slot,(about total 2" in. wide), slot covered over by another material, slot cut too wide and wind forces moisture up under.

Ridge vents ARE the most effient and if installed properly should give no problems. Fans are a joke.

Thank you.

 

Cor-a-vent said something about "other" brands using filters or being made from dense material, dramatically cutting airflow in test conditions even though NFVA ratings may have been higher.

Makes the turbines look good ehh ??
No resistance to free air flow through the 100 sq in that they have to offer, just a striaght shot out the vent !!!

 

Greetings,

I asked the enginer of one of the RV manufacturers what the effects of dust buildup was on these filtering materials, especially when the dust gets moist due to foggy or very high humidity conditions. My concern is eventual blockage or severe reduction of flow. He couldn't/wouldn't answer my question.

I have used Cor-A-Vent for years and have no problems with it.

Thank you for considering my opinion.