Improving Attic Ventilation Without Soffits

Attic ventilation fans are a type of attic fan that cools attics by pushing hot air outside while pulling in cooler air from soffit and gable vents.

Improving attic ventilation without soffits.

The most common way to add ventilation to an attic is by installing air intakes in the soffits and putting an outlet at the gable of the house. The use of vented soffits along with non vented soffits helps prevent ice dams from forming along your roofline. One common problem is caused by ice buildup along the edges of a roof. Next lay the strip vent down on a flat wood surface such as a plywood sheet or long 2 x 4 and drill 1 8 in dia.

With old homes it can be very difficult to properly ventilate the attic for a variety of reasons. Without proper airflow warm air can be trapped within the attic and cause ice dams to form along the roof line as snow and ice on the roof is melted from the warm air and then refreezes on the colder roof edge. They differ from whole house fans which are attic installed fans intended to cool the entire home rather than simply maintain proper attic temperature. Screw holes through both flanges.

These ice dams form when warm attic air melts the snow on the roof and the water refreezes along the colder edge of the roof. Roof vents will provide about half of the vent area and soffit vents the other half. A passive ventilation system should have air inlets at the base of the roof usually in the soffits and outlets in the peak or gables. Authoritative expert building diagnostic and repair advice toxic black mold and.

Roof eave venting on roofs with no overhang or soffit how to correct improper or inadequate attic or under roof ventilation in buildings detecting and correcting attic condensation and preventing ice dam leaks in buildings how to correct improper or inadequate attic or under roof ventilation in buildings. This creates a natural air flow by drawing in the air from outside pushing it up and out through the vent at the top of the house. The building code lets you reduce that by half under some conditions but more roof ventilation is usually better. The open area of a vent is sometimes listed on the roof air vent as nfva net free vent area.

Space the holes 12 to 14 in. The total venting space should equal 1 150 of the floor. Even without soffit venting it is important to provide an air gap at the soffit level to help keep the roof deck dry. With the help of an assistant raise the vent up to the soffit and center it over the cutout slot.

If not measure the size yourself. Before you go out and start poking holes in your roof and soffits check to see if you have the type of problem that attic ventilation can solve.