Choosing a ridge vent or an attic fan.
Which is better ridge vent or attic fan.
A ridge vent is similar to a screen and allows heat to escape up and out of the attic.
It has the ability to work with vaulted ceilings and you only need one of them to get the job done for ventilation as compared to multiple box vents.
I have been doing some research and it seems like the best way to go is to use soffit ridge vents instead of an attic fan.
Adding roof ridge vents can reduce summer air conditioning costs prevent roof mildew and rot and keep your roof in better shape longer.
At one point on the roof it is about 30 from the soffit to the ridge with a 2 12 pitch.
If you have suitable intake venting a ridge vent might be a better.
It also works better because it creates a vacuum.
A ridge vent runs across the top of the roof s peak.
Unlike turbines this venting style does not have any moving parts.
Without any air movement temperatures in the attic soar in summer and plunge in winter.
Purchasing an electric or solar attic fan may not provide the savings that homeowners expect.
Since your solar vent fan only moves 500 cfm a third to half that of a typical hardwired attic vent fan it probably won t move enough air to reverse the action of the ridge vent.
Continuous ridge vents are more effective because they are installed at the peak of a roof s ridge allowing for warm air to escape from the attic.
Also since the fan is powered by the sun it should turn off when the sky is overcast during a storm which will keep it from drawing rain into the attic.
Attic fans can also make a lot of noise.
However the roof is only a 2 12 pitch and i am wondering if the shallow pitch will have any adverse effect on the vents.
When you are deciding between a ridge vent or an attic fan consider the needs of the attic.