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Whirlybird Turbine Ventilators For Roof
Posted on 6/27/24 at 4:15 pm
Posted on 6/27/24 at 4:15 pm
Any true roofers here? Ive been told that a house like mine that has a soffit vent and ridge vent system work by drawing air into the soffit vent and exhausting the cool air through the ridge vents. Okay, makes perfect sense. I was also told that adding "Whirlybird" vents will disrupt the air flow and create more problems than omitting them. Is there any truth to this? Seems like it would make sense in some circumstances. My main roof has a very short ridge so I tend to think that adding a couple of Whirleys to the back roof would help. Thoughts and advice welcomed and appreciated.
3
Posted on 6/27/24 at 4:32 pm to Shanegolang
I think if you have any other vents at the top of the roof, you do not want to add whirly birds. You would add the same type of vents.
If your only vents at the roof peak are whirly birds then you are good.
If your only vents at the roof peak are whirly birds then you are good.
This post was edited on 6/27/24 at 4:33 pm
Posted on 6/27/24 at 4:38 pm to Shanegolang
quote:
I tend to think that adding a couple of Whirleys to the back roof would help
Adding a mixture of vents will only cause them to work against themselves and actually creating more stagnant air.
Whichever is the weaker of the two out of the ridge vent and/or turbine, it will become like an intake and work against the natural flow of air up your soffits and out your ridge vents.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 11:08 am to iwyLSUiwy
I have a related question. My mom just bought a house built in the 50's. It seems a ridge vent was added after Ida. She also has an electric exhaust fan that needs to be replaced. Are these true ridge vents and if so should I not replace the electric fan?
This post was edited on 6/28/24 at 12:14 pm
Posted on 6/28/24 at 11:21 am to Shanegolang
My H&G Thread about adding turbines to my ridge vented roof
You can use the link above to read the full thing, but I did this. I have an "Acadian" style hip roof that vented to way too short of a ridge vent in my opinion.
Last year I added two turbines and it made a huge difference. My attic stays about 10 degrees warmer than the outside air, which is great.
I tested several times with sticks of incense and could find zero evidence of the dreaded cross flow. That air is cooking upward through convection. I have a ton of soffet vents, and smoke below the turbines got sucked out the turbines. Smoke at turbine level or above went out the ridge vents. It was cut and dry clear how air was flowing on 95F days in the attic.
I also added more blown in insulation this year, but my house has no difficulty maintaining 71F now.
You can use the link above to read the full thing, but I did this. I have an "Acadian" style hip roof that vented to way too short of a ridge vent in my opinion.
Last year I added two turbines and it made a huge difference. My attic stays about 10 degrees warmer than the outside air, which is great.
I tested several times with sticks of incense and could find zero evidence of the dreaded cross flow. That air is cooking upward through convection. I have a ton of soffet vents, and smoke below the turbines got sucked out the turbines. Smoke at turbine level or above went out the ridge vents. It was cut and dry clear how air was flowing on 95F days in the attic.
I also added more blown in insulation this year, but my house has no difficulty maintaining 71F now.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 11:23 am to Saintsisit
quote:
It seems a ridge vent was added after Ida.
Looks like a ridge vent was installed. However there are lazy roofers out there that will install the vent without cutting the roof decking so that it actually vents the attic. You would need to get in the attic to see if the ridge vent was installed properly with enough decking cut to allow air flow.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 12:28 pm to Saintsisit
Yes those are true ridge vents. Like the poster above mentioned, you just need to probably look in the attic and see if the roofers actually cut back the decking a few inches on each side of the ridge so the air can actually flow out of the vents.
As to the power vents, I personally would not fix them/get them running along with the ridge vents for the reasons I mentioned earlier. She looks to have a pretty long run of ridge vents so there is most likely a fair/proper amount of air flow. I do roofs every day, We have installed maybe installed one or two power vents (only when a homeowner insists) in seven years and removed countless broken/non running ones. I'd just make sure it's disconnected so it doesn't cause any electrical issues and leave it. I'd probably only remove it and patch it if it starts leaking from that area, otherwise its not really hurting anything as is.
As to the power vents, I personally would not fix them/get them running along with the ridge vents for the reasons I mentioned earlier. She looks to have a pretty long run of ridge vents so there is most likely a fair/proper amount of air flow. I do roofs every day, We have installed maybe installed one or two power vents (only when a homeowner insists) in seven years and removed countless broken/non running ones. I'd just make sure it's disconnected so it doesn't cause any electrical issues and leave it. I'd probably only remove it and patch it if it starts leaking from that area, otherwise its not really hurting anything as is.
This post was edited on 6/28/24 at 12:30 pm
Posted on 6/28/24 at 12:40 pm to RaginCajunz
quote:
My H&G Thread about adding turbines to my ridge vented roof
Looks like my opinions haven't changed over the past year
Posted on 6/28/24 at 12:51 pm to iwyLSUiwy
quote:
Looks like my opinions haven't changed over the past year
I can only speak from my limited experience of adding them to my undersized ridge vents being of big benefit to my house. No denying the data suggests you shouldn’t mix vents. I think that’s dependent on particulars of the house setup
Posted on 6/28/24 at 1:07 pm to RaginCajunz
quote:
I think that’s dependent on particulars of the house setup
Yea I mean your ridge vents were such short runs that they probably weren't pulling a ton of air anyway. So it makes sense that it worked out fine adding them. I think turbines were what should have originally went on your roof when it was being built.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 1:32 pm to iwyLSUiwy
I wouldn't even have to patch it, it points out of that side vent in the 2nd picture. I bought a new one and was going to install it on Sunday, but reading your post about it possibly pulling air into the ridge vents made me rethink that.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 3:14 pm to Saintsisit
O I got ya, the gable vent is electric, I misread that. You don't see that all that often.
Personally, just because she has a good bit of ridge vent and it's probably working pretty good, I wouldn't worry about replacing it.
Some people would compare it to a chimney. You don't ever see a second exhaust coming out the side of a chimney
If she didn't have the ridge vent, I would have replaced it though.
Personally, just because she has a good bit of ridge vent and it's probably working pretty good, I wouldn't worry about replacing it.
Some people would compare it to a chimney. You don't ever see a second exhaust coming out the side of a chimney
If she didn't have the ridge vent, I would have replaced it though.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 7:18 pm to RaginCajunz
quote:
RaginCajunz
Very much appreciate the link to the thread. It definitely answered all of my questions and I'm convinced that I can safely go with 2 turbines and solve my problem. Much obliged.
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