How to Use a Soffit Vent

A soffit vent is basically the underside of any building element. There are several different types of soffits that are all in different locations. However, the most common one is the one that is found underneath the eaves on the outside of a house. A soffit vent is made to help the airflow in areas that need it the most. It is important that you know about a soffit and a soffit vent so that you will know exactly what it is that you can expect out of them and what you can use them for.

Attic

It is common that a soffit vent is found in an attic. You will find that if an attic is unventilated it can be unbelievably hot. This is something that you can improve greatly with a soffit vent. As you know, heat rises and all of the hottest air in your home will go up into your attic. However, this air can then be exhausted up and into the ridge vents, from there, cooler air will then come in through your soffit vents. If you do not have very good circulation up in your attic, then you can get an attic fan to help move this process along.

Why it is Necessary

You will find that there are several things that can benefit in having soffit vents up in your attic. Having improved ventilation with your vents will allow your attic to become drier. This is because there will be less condensation that is not going to form up inside of your roof. Less condensation means less damage that will be done to your roof and your rafters. You will also find that the cooler your attic is the less you will have to use your air conditioner for the rest of your home. This means that you can actually save quite a bit of money by having soffit vents installed in your home.

Soffit Dimensions

You will find that when you are looking into the eave of a soffit that the dimensions will have a lot to do with the overall structure of your roof. If your roof happens to have a wide overhang, then you will end up having a wider soffit. You may even need a soffit that is up to 3 feet wide. If a roof has just a little overhang, then a narrow soffit will work best, sometimes as small as 3-inches will work. It is important that the dimensions are accurate so that you will be able to get the most out of your soffit.

Vulnerability

You will find that your soffit is actually much more vulnerable to any type of weather damage than any other part of your home. Because wet material rots, a soffit is something that can be soaked in water repeatedly because of damaged shingles or flashing. Birds and squirrels can also do a lot of damage to a soffit. Insects such as wasps, bees and hornets will build nests in soffits, while this does not damage them, it can create problems for you.