Other than the roofing material, several things work in tandem to ensure your roof is in its best condition. One component you should pay attention to is ventilation. In our previous blog post, we covered how roof vents work. Today we talk about its different types.
When it comes to roof ventilation, exhaust and intake vents are the backbone of a balanced system. If you’re weighing your options and trying to nail down the best setup for your home, you’ve come to the right place.
This guide cuts straight to what you need to know about these two types of vents: how they work, why they matter, and how to choose the right combination. Let’s get into it!
What Are Exhaust Vents?
Exhaust vents are crucial components of your ventilation system that allow warm air and moisture to escape from your attic space. Proper ventilation through these outlets prevents the accumulation of hot, humid air that can damage your roof structure and affect your home’s indoor conditions.
What Do Exhaust Vents Do?
The primary job of exhaust vents is to remove excess heat and moisture. During the summer, they keep your attic cool by expelling the excess warm air and moisture. This helps reduce the strain on your cooling system.
Do you need exhaust vents in winter? Absolutely yes. In the winter, they help prevent moisture buildup that can lead to mold, mildew, and even structural damage.
Basically, these vents pull out or ‘exhaust’ hot air, pollutants, and moisture out of your home through the roof.
Why Are Exhaust Vents Important?
Proper exhaust vents offer several benefits, including:
- Extended Roof Life: By preventing heat and moisture buildup, they protect your shingles and underlayment from damage. This helps them to protect your roof longer.
- Energy Savings: By reducing attic temperatures, they help lower cooling costs in the summer.
- Improved Air Quality: They minimize humidity, which reduces the risk of mold and mildew growth.
- Ice Dam Prevention: In colder months, exhaust vents help regulate attic temperatures, which prevents snow from melting unevenly and forming damaging ice dams.
Types of Exhaust Vents
There are several types of exhaust vents, and the right one for your home depends on your roof style, climate, and ventilation needs. Here are the most common types:
Ridge Vents
Roof ridge vents are installed along the highest point of your roof, running the entire length of the ridge. These vents provide continuous ventilation while maintaining your roof’s aesthetic appeal since they’re designed to blend with your shingles. Their strategic placement at the roof’s peak allows for efficient, uniform air extraction across the entire attic space. This is the most basic and cost-effective type of exhaust vent.
Also Read: Roof Ridge Vent Problems: 5 Potential Snags And How To Fix Them
Box Vents (Static Vents)
Box vents are simple yet effective ventilation solutions that require no electricity or moving parts. These square or rectangular units are typically installed near the roof’s ridge, where they can effectively release hot air. While each vent covers a smaller area, multiple units can be installed to achieve proper ventilation.
Power Vents
Power vents use motorized fans to actively remove hot air from your attic space. Available in both electric and solar-powered options, these vents are particularly effective for larger attics or homes in hot climates.
Turbine Vents
Also known as whirlybird vents, these vents use wind power to spin a turbine that actively pulls air out of the attic. They’re highly efficient in windy areas, as even a gentle breeze can keep the turbine spinning.
Also Read: Troubleshooting Turbine Roof Vents: 5 Issues and Solutions
Gable Vents
Gable vents are installed in the triangular wall sections at each end of your attic. These vents are one of the only types that can be both exhaust and intake vents, as they rely on wind to flow in a vent on one side of the home and out a vent on the other.
What Is An Intake Vent?
Roof intake vents bring fresh, cool air into your attic, creating balanced airflow that works hand in hand with your exhaust vents.
This vent type ensures constant air movement, helping regulate attic temperature and moisture levels while reducing the strain on your roof structure and home’s cooling system.
What Do Intake Vents Do?
The primary function of intake vents is to pull in cooler air from outside, allowing it to circulate through your attic and push out the warm, humid air through the exhaust vents. In general, without intake vents, exhaust vents can’t function properly, which is why the two are usually used together.
Why Are Intake Vents Important?
Working alongside exhaust vents, intake vents have similar benefits for your roofing system:
- Better Indoor Air Quality: Intake vents, typically installed under the eaves as soffit vents, are crucial for bringing fresh, cool outside air into your attic space. This keeps your home safe from the buildup of stale air.
- Balanced Pressure System: Intake vents create positive pressure at the lowest part of your attic, working in harmony with ridge or other exhaust vents to establish a complete ventilation system that reduces the risk of moisture.
- Protected Entry Points: Located under the eaves, intake vents are naturally sheltered from rain and snow, making them highly effective year-round while minimizing the risk of water infiltration
Types Of Intake Vents
Just like the exhaust roof vents, there are different types of intake vents too. Here is a look at some of them:
Soffit Vents
Soffit vents are installed beneath your roof’s eaves, providing an efficient and discreet way to draw fresh air into your attic. These vents have become the industry standard for intake ventilation due to their effectiveness and subtle appearance. When paired with ridge vents, they create an optimal airflow system that helps maintain your attic’s temperature and moisture levels.
Fascia Vents
Fascia vents, also known as fascia strip vents, offer an alternative solution for homes that lack sufficient eave space for traditional soffit ventilation. Installed directly into the fascia board along your roofline, these vents efficiently draw in fresh air while maintaining your home’s exterior appearance.
Drip Edge Vents
Drip edge vents combine two essential functions: guiding water away into the gutters and providing intake ventilation. These innovative vents are especially useful for homes without soffit space, offering a practical solution for proper attic ventilation.
Exhaust vs. Intake Vents: Differences At A Glance
Below is a table that highlights the key differences between exhaust and intake vents:
| Features | Exhaust Vents | Intake Vents |
| Primary Function | Expels hot, humid, or stale air from the attic. | Draws fresh, cooler air into the attic. |
| Location | Installed at the roof’s peak or high points (e.g., ridge, gable). | Installed at the roof’s lower edges (e.g., soffit, fascia). |
| Types | Ridge vents, box vents, power vents, gable vents. | Soffit vents, fascia vents, drip edge vents. |
| Direction of Airflow | Outward—removes air from inside the attic. | Inward—brings air into the attic. |
| Dependence | Requires intake vents to function properly. | Requires exhaust vents to create a balanced system. |
Exhaust vs. Intake Vents: Why Both Are Important For Your Roof
Exhaust and intake vents have different purposes, but they aren’t competitors, meaning it is not necessary to choose between them. Each one depends on the other to create a healthy, balanced airflow system in your attic. If you only have exhaust vents, there’s no fresh air to replace the hot, stale air being removed. On the other hand, if you only have intake vents, there’s nowhere for the air to go, so it just sits in the attic space.
The Balance Equation
A proper ventilation system needs balance to work effectively. The general rule of thumb is to have an equal amount of intake and exhaust ventilation. For example, if you’re installing 300 square inches of exhaust vents, you’ll want 300 square inches of intake vents to match. However, this may change depending on the style and area of your home.
What Happens Without Balanced Attic Ventilation?
- Too Much Exhaust: This creates negative pressure, which can pull conditioned air from your home into the attic, wasting energy and money.
- Too Much Intake: This overloads the system with air that has nowhere to go, causing inefficiency and possible moisture issues.
Want To Install Roof Vents? We Can Help!
Now that you know the importance of both intake and exhaust systems for roof ventilation, it is time to ensure that your home meets its ventilation requirements. Exhaust and intake vents might not be the flashiest part of your roof, but they’re among the most important.
A. Fricker Roofing and Waterproofing is a premier roofing company serving Broken Arrow, Jenks, and the surrounding areas of Oklahoma. Our roofers have extensive experience in roof repair and replacement services. Get in touch with us today at (918) 402-7167 to discuss your home’s ventilation needs.
