I've been living in my 1813 home for about eight years, and every summer my attic turns into a sauna. Thankfully, I've never had any water or moisture problems. My setup has always included gable vents and four static vents, but no soffit vents. Recently, I had to replace my roof, and the sales guy convinced me that a ridge vent would be a game changer. However, the installers opted not to install it or re-install the static vents, citing that my existing gable vents were sufficient and could hinder the performance of the ridge vent. My gable vents measure around 24x16 inches, and my attic is close to 900 square feet. I'm stuck wondering: Would a ridge vent be more effective if I blocked off the gable vents, or should I just keep things as they are? Thanks for any advice!
2 Answers
From what I've seen with older homes, adding a ridge vent is often a worthwhile upgrade. Gable vents alone primarily help prevent moisture issues in the attic rather than cooling the living space below. However, it's puzzling why your installers didn't follow the contractor's plan—maybe you should discuss this with your contractor. Also, don't forget to check the warranty for their work!
Gable vents create airflow from one side to the other, but without soffit vents, you'll have limited air circulation, especially on still days. A ridge vent by itself isn't going to do much without a way for cooler air to enter from below. Adding soffit vents would definitely improve ventilation. If it's a choice between just gable or ridge vents, I'd lean towards keeping the gable vents if they align with the wind.