Types of Roof Vents 

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1. Box Vents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Box Vents also called Low Profile Vents, Louvers, Flat Vents, or Turtle Vents are static vents. This means they have no moving parts. The vent is installed over a hole cut out of the roof. Utilizing natural convection, they create an opening for the rising hot air and moisture to escape through. They are available in different colors as well as both metal and hard plastic. Due to their limited effectiveness, numerous Box Vents are often required, so make sure to note the number of box vents on the roof.

2. Wind Turbines:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turbine vents are not static, as they have moving parts, but they do not have motors and instead rely on the wind to power their movement. Wind-driven turbine vents move more air than box vents – when the wind is blowing. They are available in differing degrees of quality so make sure to not the quality and material that the turbine is made of when you see them being utilized.

3. Power Vents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Power ventilators have motors that turn large fans to drive hot air and moisture out of the attic. They are available in a variety of colors. Some come equipped with adjustable thermostats which trigger the fan to kick on when the attic reaches a certain temperature. They are also available with a humidistat that will detect levels of humidity and turn on, so if these vents are being utilized by the homeowner, make sure to check if either a thermostat or humidistat are being used in conjunction with the power vents. Another important fact to note is that these units run at an extremely low noise level and because of this they can no longer be working and yet an insured could go months without realizing the unit is not working, so when you see power vents at a home make sure to check that they are all properly functioning.

4. Ridge Vents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ridge vents are another example of a static vent system. Imagine a book opened and laying face down. The book’s spine would be the ridge on a roof that you would install ridge vent. A ridge vent should run the entire length of the roof’s horizontal ridge, blending into the roofline. While other forms of ventilation create hot and cold zones on the roof’s surface, ridge vents provide even distribution of temperature. This means sections of the roof are not aging faster than others. Ridge vents are also not dependent on wind, so changes in wind speed and direction have no real significant effect on performance.

5. Off Ridge Vents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Often confused with box vents, Off Ridge Vents function similarly. They are static vents placed over a cut section in the roof near the ridge. Rather than being square like a box vent, they are long and thin. While they allow hot and moist air out of the attic space, they are typically not the most effective, requiring several units so make sure to note how many off ridge vents a home has as well as how long each unit is.

6. Cupola Vents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cupola vents are often purely decorative, however, they can be functioning static roof vents. They sit atop a high ridge and frame an opening in the roof system, allowing hot air and moisture to rise and escape the building envelope. While they can be a functioning roof vent, they are limited in their abilities and usually fill a support role to another primary roof vent system.

7. Soffit Vents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soffit Vents provide a means of air intake into the roof’s ventilation system. They are installed in soffits and eaves and most often made of PVC or aluminum. Soffit vents also allow outside air to enter the attic at the lowest point of the roof, soffit vents are most effective when used in conjunction with a continuous ridge vent.