Skip to content

Should Gable Vents Be Used With Ridge Vents

Do Gable Vents and Ridge Vents Work Well Together? The simple answer is: Not really. If your home features both ridge vents and gable vents operating simultaneously, you should think about sealing up the gable vents. Different types of exhaust vents actually prevent each other from working effectively.

Do I need a ridge vent with gable vents?

To summarize: Seal air leaks in your attic floor so that roof venting doesn’t suck conditioned air into the attic and cause moisture problems. Adding a ridge vent is a fine idea, and don’t worry about it competing with the gable vents. If the gable vents aren’t letting in rain or snow, leave them alone.

Do you need roof vents if you have a ridge vent?

They work fine by themselves but what we have learned through research is that if you have a proper ridge venting system then you should block off the old gable vents. It turns out they work against one another and pockets of dead air begin to form in areas in the attic and that’s not what you want.

Are gable vents a good idea?

Gable vents are particularly valued because they function as both intake and exhaust vents, depending on which way the wind is blowing. Most of the time, their position near the peak of the roof allows heat to dissipate out through the louvers.

Are gable vents better than ridge vents?

The combination of a ridge vent along with continuous soffit vents gives you a flow through of air similar to the way a chimney works. Even without soffit vents, a ridge vent is much more effective than gable vents.”

Do you need a ridge vent if you have soffit vents?

A functioning ridge vent will allow the hot air to escape through the roof. The air comes in through the soffit vent, and exits through the ridge vent. It’s as simple as that. A ridge vent without soffit vents won’t work as intended, and vice versa.

Are gable vents sufficient?

Is One Enough? Though gable vents are nice to look at and serve the same function as other ventilation systems (keeping out the rain, preventing leakage, avoiding deterioration of materials in attic, lowering utility costs), they may not be able to do it alone.

What is better ridge vent or roof vent?

Roofing contractors consider ridge vents to be the most preferred option when ventilating the roof of any home. Ridge vents are less invasive than other vent types while remaining the most cost-effective and energy-efficient compared to other roof vent types.

Do you need soffit vents if you have a ridge vent?

If there is no soffit venting, the ridge vent has no option but to pull air from the other side of the ridge vent. Now, there is a potential weather infiltration problem. Assuming that there is no infiltration issue, another possible consequence of a ridge vent without intake is a negatively pressurized attic.

Are ridge vents enough ventilation?

The truth is, most experts agree that though other roof vents allow some ventilation (which is better than none), ridge vents are the most efficient and cost-effective roof ventilation system around. Our recommendation is yes. Especially if you are installing a new roof, you want to extend its life as long as possible.

Are ridge vents better than roof vents?

Roofing contractors consider ridge vents to be the most preferred option when ventilating the roof of any home. Ridge vents are less invasive than other vent types while remaining the most cost-effective and energy-efficient compared to other roof vent types.

Do you need gable vents if you have a ridge vent?

According to Cor-A-Vent’s website (cor-a-vent.com): “The ridge vent should not be used with other roof mounted or gable end vents. They can disrupt the air flow through the attic. A properly setup ridge/soffit vent system does not need to have power roof vents to help move hot air out of the attic.

How effective are gable vents?

The gable vents turn into intake vents and bring in warmer air to the attic space. Some attic fans or whole-house fans are too powerful for the attic. If the negative pressure they create by exhausting attic air is strong enough, they can draw conditioned air from your living space into your attic, and then outside.

Which is better ridge vent or gable vent?

The combination of a ridge vent along with continuous soffit vents gives you a flow through of air similar to the way a chimney works. Even without soffit vents, a ridge vent is much more effective than gable vents.”

Should I have gable vents and ridge vents?

The simple answer is: Not really. If your home features both ridge vents and gable vents operating simultaneously, you should think about sealing up the gable vents. Different types of exhaust vents actually prevent each other from working effectively. Ridge vents are especially good at their job when left alone.

Do gable vents leak?

Sometimes the gable vent is an innocent bystander and the wind is the real culprit when it comes to your leak. If high winds are the problem causing your gable vent leak, consider replacing your gable vent with an electric one that has its own fan and slats that open and close when the fan is not on cooling the attic.

What is the most effective roof venting system?

Soffit vents are a favorite amongst home builders and roofers because they are unquestionably the most effective intake vent for the cost. If a home’s style allows for it, most new construction builders include soffit vents in their home’s blueprint.

More Answers On Should Gable Vents Be Used With Ridge Vents

Do Gable Vents and Ridge Vents Work Together – Angi

Oct 28, 2021Do Gable Vents and Ridge Vents Work Well Together? The simple answer is: Not really. If your home features both ridge vents and gable vents operating simultaneously, you should think about sealing up the gable vents. Different types of exhaust vents actually prevent each other from working effectively.

Does a Gable Vent Work With a Ridge Vent? » The Money Pit

And the answer is you should block it off, because it does interrupt that flow of air from the soffit, under the sheathing and out the ridge. By having the gable vent, you get some sort of turbulence up there that interrupts that flow. So if you can have a soffit vent and a ridge vent, that’s the best situation.

Should gable vents be used with ridge vents? – askinglot.com

Should gable vents be used with ridge vents? The combination of a ridge vent along with continuous soffit vents gives you a flow through of air similar to the way a chimney works. Even without soffit vents, a ridge vent is much more effective than gable vents.” Hammer says, however, that blocking gable vents isn’t necessary.

Do Gable End Vents need to be sealed up when using Ridge Vents?

May 25, 2022It really depends on the type of roof design you have and if you can get the goal of 50% intake and 50% exhaust. Some times the gable vent can be used with ridge vents if within that three feet of the ridge. If you have proper intake then you may want to close them off.

Can You Combine Ridge and Gable Vents? | JLC Online

But should you add a ridge vent to a roof with gable vents? No way — that’s a prescription for disaster. Gable vents will alter the air flow around the ridge vent and, especially when wind is parallel to the ridge (at right angles to the gable), can actually reverse air flow through the ridge vent, pulling rain or snow into the attic.

Are gable vents necessary with ridge vents? – AskingLot.com

Also to know is, do gable vents interfere with ridge vents? No way — that’s a prescription for disaster. Gable vents will alter the air flow around the ridge vent and, especially when wind is parallel to the ridge (at right angles to the gable), can actually reverse air flow through the ridge vent, pulling rain or snow into the attic.

Q&A – Does Having Gable End Vents Work Against Soffit Vents and a Ridge …

Apr 28, 2022Air flows just like water, to the line of least resistance. If hot air is exhausting out the ridge vent and air can be drawn from the gable vents, then the air below the gable vents will not move as you would like for it to. Your goal should be to get as close to 50/50 high low ventilation as you can. For sure, turn off the fan.

is gable vents good or bad with ridge vent – DIY Home Improvement Forum

Mixing 2 or more DIFFERENT types of exhaust vents on the same roof above a common attic is not recommended (ridge vents, gable louvers, wind turbines, power fans and roof louvers) because it could cause short-circuiting. However, ShingleVent II and Hip Ridge Vent are the SAME TYPE of vent—they are both ridge vents. They have the same primary …

Should I block the gable vents now that the house has new ridge vents?

1. The traditional advice would be to block the gable vents. Research shows that the most effective combination of attic vents is soffit vents + ridge vents, without any gable vents. 2. In reality, however, either way is fine — because attic venting is less important than most people think.

Can you use a gable fan with a ridge vent? – Quora

Answer: You “can” do whatever you want when it come to cutting holes for the purpose of creating attic space airflow. However, competent engineering types who study such attic airflow without the prejudicial influence of product marketing demands from their employers will generally tell you to pi…

Fact or Fiction? Mixing Exhaust Vent Types Is Problematic

Posted By: Paul Scelsi September 25, 2018. Too often, attic exhaust vent types are mixed, which can short-circuit the airflow pattern in the attic space. Photo: Jerry Becker. Airflow dynamics dictates avoiding it. The manufacturers’ Installation Instructions caution against it. Building Code cites it as a violation.

Should I Close My Attic Gable Vents? – Fine Homebuilding

According to the guy who writes the home-improvement column in the local paper, if you add a ridge vent, you should close off the gable vents. If not, the air pathway through the attic will be short-circuited, flowing only from the gable vents to the ridge vent and not ventilating the lower part of the attic.

Gable Vents vs Ridge Vents – DoItYourself.com

A high-pitched gable roof is best suited for gable vents because gable vents come in many sizes and some can be trimmed and modified for a proper fit. Ridge vents will not provide enough ventilation. Reliability and Wind Change Gable vents with no fans are only effective as long as the wind is working with the vent.

Metal Roof Ventilation: Gable Vents Versus Ridge Vents – RPS Metal …

Since Gable vents can be used decoratively, they can be used in conjunction with Ridge vents. However, the benefit of Ridge vents becomes somewhat useless when coupled with a Gable vent that is not sealed off – since the benefit of a Ridge vent over Gable is the added protection against water entry. Choosing and Installing a Vent Type

Should gable vents be closed if a ridge vent is added?

Ridge vents and soffit vents are considered the best because they are located as high and as low as possible. Gable vents are almost as high so will increase the hot air exiting. The intake air will always becoming in the low vents and in fact will be increased by leaving the gable vents in place. Bud

Gable Vents – Do They Actually Help? – EZPZ Roofing

Con: Some roof types do not accommodate for gable vents. This being roofs like hip and valley rooftops that do not have gables at all, another ventilation system would have to be looked at like the ridge vent. You will also need your house to be made out of the right material as some gable vents will not be able to be fitted with these vents.

Ridge Vent vs. Attic Fan: Which Do You Need? – The Spruce

Mar 31, 2022Then, the attic fan takes over. If you had to choose just one—and your attic has a great need for ventilation—an attic fan is your best bet. Attic fans in the $300 to $400 range can move upwards of 5,000 CFM. For lower capacity ventilation at a steep cost savings, a ridge vent might be your best choice.

Combining an Attic Vent Fan with a Roof Ridge Vent

In hot climates, a power vent fan is often mounted behind a gable vent or cut into the roof near the peak to assist this process by forcibly expelling additional hot air from the attic. Combining an attic power vent fan with a ridge vent is usually not recommended because: It could reverse the natural flow of hot air out the ridge vent.

The Pros And Cons Of Using A Ridge Vent For Your Roof

Rather just have the ridge vents and the soffit vents paired together. This will mean that you will need to cover or remove the gable vents though as this will hinder the effectiveness of the ridge vent. I have written a more extensive article on the ridge vent if you would like to have a read through. I will link this below.

Roof Venting: Are Ridge Vents Better Than Roof Vents?

Oct 7, 2021At around 4 feet in length, off ridge vents can be helpful when the length of the roof’s ridgeline is small, for example, a house with a complex roof system with a series of shorter roof ridges. Box Vents. Box vents are used in a larger number than other vents, and the installation of these involves cutting a hole in the roof for the vent to …

Do Ridge Vents Work Without Soffit Vents? – Airflow Academy

Aug 28, 2021Ridge vents can work without soffit vents, however, this won’t be very energy efficient. Without soffit vents, the ridge vents will draw air from some other inlet on the roof like a gable, but this will limit the extent of air circulation in the attic. This can cause an increase in heat loss from the house due to natural convection.

Do You Need an Attic Fan If You Have a Ridge Vent? – SF Gate

Aug 31, 2021Running an Attic Fan With Ridge Vents. According to HVAC SEER, an attic fan isn’t only unnecessary in a properly designed attic but it can also be detrimental. The purpose of an attic fan is to …

What is A Gable Vent? Why Do You Need Gable Vents? – HomeServe

The gable vent is placed at both ends of the roof, on the sidewalls of a house beneath the roof eaves. Also, known as louvered vents, you might’ve seen them as big triangles or circles on the exterior house walls, near the roof. They usually come in pairs, but you may have more than that, depending on the number of gables your roof has.

What is a rafter vent? | AnswersDrive

Roof vents. Intake Vents: Air intake vents are used to allow outside air to enter into attics and ventilation spaces. Intake vents should be located along a roof assembly’s lowest eave at or near soffits or eaves. Intake vents are best used with exhaust vents that are located at or near a roof assembly’s peak.

Q&A – Does Having Gable End Vents Work Against Soffit Vents and a Ridge …

Air flows just like water, to the line of least resistance. If hot air is exhausting out the ridge vent and air can be drawn from the gable vents, then the air below the gable vents will not move as you would like for it to. Your goal should be to get as close to 50/50 high low ventilation as you can. For sure, turn off the fan.

Metal Roof Ventilation: Gable Vents Versus Ridge Vents – RPS Metal …

Since Gable vents can be used decoratively, they can be used in conjunction with Ridge vents. However, the benefit of Ridge vents becomes somewhat useless when coupled with a Gable vent that is not sealed off – since the benefit of a Ridge vent over Gable is the added protection against water entry. Choosing and Installing a Vent Type

Ridge vents and gable vents | Bob Is The Oil Guy

Messages. 14,657. Location. North Carolina. 37 minutes ago. #1. When my roof was replaced a few years ago, i had roof ridge vents installed, and the roof fans that kept failing removed. My question is, should i block the gable vents on each end of the house with plastic, so the air moves more from the soffits, to the ridge vent, or does it …

Should you remove gable vents if you add ridge vents? Why am I getting …

Answer (1 of 4): Why did you add ridge vents? Did the roofing contractor talk you into it? Did you know that gable vents are the best type of exhaust ventilation for a straight-line attic geometry? With proper intake venting (eaves or soffit) the gable vents produce a wind tunnel effect, which d…

The Pros And Cons Of Using A Ridge Vent For Your Roof

Rather just have the ridge vents and the soffit vents paired together. This will mean that you will need to cover or remove the gable vents though as this will hinder the effectiveness of the ridge vent. I have written a more extensive article on the ridge vent if you would like to have a read through. I will link this below.

Gable Vent Installation Mistakes to Avoid – DoItYourself.com

Combining Exhaust Vents. Deciding to combine a gable vent with a different type of exhaust vent is another mistake you should avoid. When you install 2 exhaust vents in the attic, they draw air from each other, as opposed to drawing air from the intake vents. As a result, the attic ventilation will not be effective in cooling the area.

Resource

https://www.angi.com/articles/when-using-ridge-vents-should-gable-vents-be-sealed.htm
https://www.moneypit.com/does-gable-vent-work-ridge-vent/
https://askinglot.com/should-gable-vents-be-used-with-ridge-vents
https://www.askaroofer.com/post/do-gable-end-vents-need-to-be-sealed-up-when-using-ridge-vents
https://www.jlconline.com/how-to/roofing/can-you-combine-ridge-and-gable-vents_o
https://askinglot.com/are-gable-vents-necessary-with-ridge-vents
https://www.askaroofer.com/post/qa-does-having-gable-end-vents-work-against-soffit-vents-and-a-ridge-vent
https://www.diychatroom.com/threads/is-gable-vents-good-or-bad-with-ridge-vent.254610/
https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/question/should-i-block-the-gable-vents-now-that-the-house-has-new-ridge-vents
https://www.quora.com/Can-you-use-a-gable-fan-with-a-ridge-vent?share=1
https://roofingmagazine.com/fact-or-fiction-mixing-exhaust-vent-types-is-problematic/
https://www.finehomebuilding.com/project-guides/roofing/close-off-gable-vents
https://www.doityourself.com/stry/gable-vents-vs-ridge-vents
https://www.rpsmetalroofing.com/metal-roof-ventilation-gable-vents-versus-ridge-vents/
https://www.diychatroom.com/threads/should-gable-vents-be-closed-if-a-ridge-vent-is-added.494514/
https://www.ezpzroofing.com/ventilation/gable-vent/
https://www.thespruce.com/ridge-vent-vs-attic-fan-5205124
https://todayshomeowner.com/combining-an-attic-vent-fan-with-a-roof-ridge-vent/
https://www.ezpzroofing.com/ventilation/roof-ridge-vent-pros-cons/
https://homeinspectioninsider.com/ridge-vents-vs-roof-vents/
https://airflowacademy.com/do-ridge-vents-work-without-soffit-vents/
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/need-attic-fan-ridge-vent-93032.html
https://www.homeserve.com/en-us/blog/home-improvement/gable-vent/
http://impson.tic.airlinemeals.net/what-is-a-rafter-vent-2723488
https://www.askaroofer.com/post/qa-does-having-gable-end-vents-work-against-soffit-vents-and-a-ridge-vent
https://www.rpsmetalroofing.com/metal-roof-ventilation-gable-vents-versus-ridge-vents/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/ridge-vents-and-gable-vents.355076/
https://www.quora.com/Should-you-remove-gable-vents-if-you-add-ridge-vents-Why-am-I-getting-dust-in-my-attic-on-top-of-my-insulation-from-the-ridge-vents-now?share=1
https://www.ezpzroofing.com/ventilation/roof-ridge-vent-pros-cons/
https://www.doityourself.com/stry/gable-vent-installation-mistakes-to-avoid