I am having a new roof installed and there is an additional item Ridge Vents that I can add to the home – I currently have Gable Vents – no sofits.
I understand that the gables need to be blocked and Sofits added so that there is no short circuiting of air flow directly from gable to ridge.
My issue is this: After searching online for a comparison of energy savings – I get this
"Ridge Vents are better and more efficient"
Ok I would like to think so as well but I am having a difficult time with that statement.
1: Where are the facts and figures to prove out the efficiency and the savings ?
So here is my question does anybody have any figures , any calculations , any website links for an Actual Comparison of Energy Costs Ridge vs Gables – all things being equal .. same location (neighbors if you will , same cookie cutter suburbian dwelling..).
I am looking for real facts and figures – not um I think so's or seems liek it should be's ..
Any help is greatly appreciated ..
Best Answer
Neither is necessarily more or less efficient. Attic ventilation is a calculation of cubic inches of airflow, taking into consideration soffit venting and outflow.
There are lots of online calculators to determine this. Here's a link to the first one I found, from GAF:
https://www.gaf.com/Roofing/Residential/Products/Roof_Vents/Ventilation_Calculator
Depending on your area, ridgevents have just become a go-to for ease of figuring. That doesn't make it right, but it isn't necessarily wrong either. Down south where I live, you can't vent your roof too much. Up north, where heat retention may be an issue, proper venting may assist your attic insulation.