Florida is known for its warm and pleasant weather conditions. Although a popular tourist destination, it is also a favored area to live. This means that when looking to buy, renovate, or build a home, you must consider the impact of the climate on various structures, such as roof vents.
Commonly referred to as “the Sunshine State”, winters in Florida are mild and not too cold. Although this means a lot of warmth and sunshine for the rest of the year, Florida also has lots of rain and wind with many thunderstorms. Summers are wet and humid and the majority of the year is warm with average temps in the 90s.
Roof vents are useful in the summer to keep your homes cool. In hot temperatures, the air fills with moisture and causes excess condensation which can be detrimental in causing damage to your roof and ceiling. A well-ventilated attic with roof vents can minimize potential damage and cost.
A Home With A Roof Vent
There are two types of roof vents, namely intake vents and exhaust vents. Intake vents allow air outside to enter attics and other areas of ventilation. They can be found on a roof along the lowest eave, or near soffits. Due to intake vents being installed to allow for the free movement of air, they should not be blocked. Blockages can be caused by natural clogging, or applied insulation. The design of intake vents is critical to their operation. They should be designed and installed to prevent precipitation, animals, and insects from entering the ventilation space.
The function of an intake vent is best optimized when used in conjunction with exhaust vents. Air exhaust vents are used as a means of allowing the air inside the attic and ventilation spaces to exit to the exterior. Exhaust vents are typically found at the roof assembly’s ridge or high point.
The combination of intake vents and exhaust vents are great for air intake along low points, and air exhaust at high points. If done correctly, this setup should result in an optimum natural convention.
There are different types of exhaust vents, namely;
- Ridge Vents: shingle-over or nonshingle-over vent types along the length of the roof.
- Static Vents: as the name suggests, installed near the ridge of the roof.
- Gable-End Vents: installed in the walls of a building, at the gable end’s peak.
- Turbine Vents: rely on wind to rotate the vent’s turbine fan blades.
- Powered Vents: these are roof-mounted exhaust fans.
The Importance Of Roof Vents
Due to the various functions of roof vents, their importance is weighed on their use. The best roof vent for you, is the one that is best relevant to your home’s airflow and roof design. Roof vents play a large role in the life expectancy of your roof, utility costs and potential damage due to condensation and moisture.
In order to make the most of living in the climate of South Florida, make sure that you hire the experts in roof vent installation to maximize efficiency, and minimize cost.