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07-29-2010, 07:54 PM #1
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Hello new guy with questions on attic venting please help.
Hello, me and my wife just purchased a home 14 years old original roof square footage of 2250 and it has one electric roof mounted fan. I am not even sure if its working (from what I am reading probably not). Its a single store house with a 2 year old Goodman 16 seer unit on it. The inspector told me it could use more ventalation so I have been researching. I live in oklahoma its hot, humid and the house faces due south so its going to get straight line winds and rain. My question to you guys is will a ridge cap vent work on this house without leaking? My roofer says he has never put one on without leaking and doesn't like them. I think they would look best and do great job it I Knew of one that you all know will not leak. Next question is electric attic fan, is there any out there that last? My roofer says he has had his for 7 years still running??? I really don't like the idea of adding to electric bill if I dont't have to. I also have the option of turbines I know but a house that size should have 4 14'' turbines right?? Thanks for your input guys. Chris
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07-29-2010, 08:16 PM #2
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I don't know beans about OK but I do know about attic fans. They're a waste of money and can actually raise your cooling costs. Here's the scoop in a nutshell. The hottest air in the attic is at the peak. It should vent out through either gable vents or soffet & ridge vents. The use of both is discouraged for various reasons. So one way or another, natural convection should rid the attic of the hottest air. As for the fan, unless you have a humongeous intake vent for the attic, the fan will be starved for air. They can push a whole lot more than one little gable vent with a screen on it will allow in. So the attic becomes de-pressurized. That low pressure invites cool air from the rooms below to be sucked up into the attic through all the various holes. That cool air going into the attic is something you just paid to cool down. Now you have to pay to cool down new, hot air that's coming in down below to replace the cool air that was sucked up into the attic. Finally, since the hottest air is at the peak of the roof, if you actually measured the temperature down low in the attic, under the insulation, you'd find it not much warmer than the room below it. So save your money on the purchase of a powerd fan, save your money on the extra operating costs to run the fan and save your money on the added cooling costs.
As for the inspector saying you need more ventilation; on what was that opinion based? Dry rot? Bug infestations? Mold growing? Or just trying to make an impression? Just curious about that.If YOU want change, YOU have to first change.
If you are waiting for the 'other guy' to change first, just remember, you're the 'other guy's' other guy. To continue to expect real change when you keep acting the same way as always, is folly. Won't happen. Real change will only happen when a majority of the people change the way they vote!
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07-29-2010, 08:26 PM #3
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This attic was much taller then my attic I have now. My attic is soo hot you can't stay up there anytime at all. Now the new house you can walk around up there and it really isn't that bad. I am not sure where he was coming from but all the reading I have been doing it seems under ventilated. I am really thinking against the powered electric fans now but as for the ridge vents who makes one that is known not to leak when its pooring or snowing with north and south winds like we have in oklahoma? As for Soffets it has plenty of them they are stopped up and I plan on replacing them with new ones asap. So as for Ridge vents who makes the best no leak guarantee one? Thanks Chris
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07-29-2010, 08:40 PM #4
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I had ridge vents put in my last house-no leaks. and have never heard of them leaking. My current house does not have them but will shortly.
It's not the Brand with the fewest repairs-It's all in the install!!! Attention to detail and using the best materials!
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07-30-2010, 10:48 AM #5
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i have this on my home.
Originally Posted by Chris Derrick
http://www.airvent.com/homeowner/pro...ngleVent.shtml
they claim to have 0 water infiltration and compare to other ridge vents.
http://www.airvent.com/homeowner/res...onCharts.shtml
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07-30-2010, 11:55 AM #6
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Absolutely do not install a powered attic ventilator.
http://www.dom.com/about/conservatio...entilation.pdf
If your roofer has never installed a ridge vent system that didn't leak, find a new roofer!
Remember that for the ridge vent, or any ventilation, to work, there MUST be at least as much capacity for air to enter the attic down low as there is to exit up high.
In your climate, if you have air ducts and air handling equipment in your attic, you should also look into a radiant barrier on the under side of the roof.
If there are not ducts or air handling equipment up there, just have more insulation installed and don't worry about a radiant barrier.Last edited by mark beiser; 07-30-2010 at 11:39 PM.
If more government is the answer, then it's a really stupid question.
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07-30-2010, 07:39 PM #7
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ditto what mark said.
The cure of the part should not be attempted without the cure of the whole. ~Plato
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07-30-2010, 08:27 PM #8
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In Southern CA I see about 500 turbine fans for every one PAV. I have a lot of experience with turbines and I know that two will cool a tall attic of a 1600sqft ranch house. One will cool a non-insulated garage. I’d go with 2 -3 turbines. They are inexpensive, will not pressure imbalance the house, free to operate, are on constantly, easily installed and serviced, and are incredibly effective in removing heat. Originally Posted by Chris Derrick
They are a bit unsightly so install them just behind the front ridge and paint them afterwards.
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07-31-2010, 07:39 PM #9
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we don't do many passive turbines now because the hurricanes rip them off.
soffit & ridge venting
gable end venting
or passive turbines.
I haven't done roofing work in years..except for leaks for friends/family
but even I could install ridge venting that didn't leak.
best of luck.The cure of the part should not be attempted without the cure of the whole. ~Plato
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08-06-2010, 10:30 PM #10
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Guys i got a silly question but is there one Turbine vent better then all the rest? I know you can get em pretty cheap at home depot lowes etc but if there is one that last much longer doesn't make noise etc I would pay more money for it. Thanks Chris Derrick
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