Eave vents are vents that you mount directly under the eaves of your house. The eaves are the parts of the roof that overhang. They allow fresh air to enter the roof while blocking pests like insects.
Eave vents can play a large part in roof health and durability. Additionally, if you have an excellent eave vent system, your house will be more energy efficient, and your roof will require less maintenance.
Read our eave vent guide to learn more about their purpose. We will also detail the types of eave vents and more.
Why is Proper Roof Ventilation Essential?
Without proper ventilation, your roof’s health will be at serious risk, and there will be a lesser chance of it lasting long.
Additionally, if you don’t have any ventilation or it’s not up to standard, you can encounter multiple issues. For example, there may be a massive buildup of heat, which can cause mould to grow and cause significant structural damage.
Poor ventilation can also increase energy bill costs. An energy-efficient ventilation system can benefit the environment while saving you money.
What Are an Eave Vent’s Main Purposes?
Now you understand why proper ventilation is essential for a roof, we can delve deeper into the specific purposes of eave vents.
Here are the main benefits of using eave vents on a roof.
Controlling Moisture in a Building
Moisture buildup can lead to costly damage to your home if you don’t control it. A buildup of moisture and condensation is the perfect environment for mould to grow in your house.
Mould can break down your walls and ceiling and cause massive structural damage. Mould can be hazardous if you use wood for the structure of your house because it can cause it to rot.
Due to the dire consequences of moisture buildup, controlling it is one of the most important purposes of an eave vent.
Eave vents control moisture buildup by allowing fresh air to enter your home through the attic. The cold air can balance the internal temperature of a house, lowering the moisture level.
Additionally, eave vents ensure that your house has consistent airflow. As well as bringing in cold air, they can expel hot air outside.
Regulating Internal Temperature
Controlling the temperature in the attic (and the rest of the house) is also essential. For example, if you don’t control the temperature in the attic, it can cause the roof shingles to expand or contract, leaving the roof vulnerable to leaks.
By working with other aspects of a building’s ventilation efforts, eave vents can regulate the temperature in the attic. For example, during hot seasons, eave vents can bring in colder air to control the temperature and keep the roof safe.
Temperature regulation can also prolong the life of roofing materials like shingles and flashing.
It Can Extend Your Roof’s Total Lifespan
As mentioned before, high temperatures significantly adversely affect roofing materials, especially asphalt shingles. Some of the results from high temperatures to shingles include:
- It can age quicker.
- Cracking can let in rainwater and cause leaks, which can, in turn, promote the buildup of mould.
- Shingle curling can also allow water to seep into the house.
Because of how eave vents regulate temperatures, they can protect shingles from these damages.
Also, by prolonging the life of roofing materials, eave vents prevent the need for extensive maintenance. When you spot a cracked or curled shingle, you must remove and replace it, costing time and money. Eave vents lower the number of times you must go through this process.
What Types of Eave Vents Are Available?
We recommend purchasing an eave vent system for your home. However, before you do so, you need to know that there is more than one type.
Here are the main types of eave vents, their purpose and how to install them.
Soffit Vents
These eave vents are the standard type. You install them on the underside of the part of the roof that overhangs (known as the soffit). Their primary purpose is to bring cold air from the outside into the attic to regulate the temperature and prolong the roof’s life.
To install these, measure the soffit, cut appropriately sized openings, place the vents in the holes and seal them in. We recommend hiring a professional eave vent installer to do this if you don’t have the experience or tools required.
Continuous Soffit Vents
These are a slight variation on the traditional soffit vent because they provide a continuous airflow stream. Because there are no gaps between the vents, the flow of air they bring in is far more consistent.
They also stick out far less, so they look far more appealing than a standard soffit vent.
If you decide to install these yourself, you must measure the spacing accurately. Otherwise, the system won’t fit in the soffit. You also need to ensure that the insulation in the attic doesn’t block the vents.
Ridge Vents
Although ridge roof vents are a different type to eave vents, the combined use of both can present multiple benefits.
Because ridge vents run along the highest point of your roof, you can use them with eave vents to improve the airflow in your attic. Ridge vents also help to expel more hot air from the attic to control the moisture level and regulate the temperature.
Combining these vent types also helps prolong your roof’s life for longer due to the temperature control.
Gable Vents
Gable vents are on the gable ends of a house. When you use them with eave vents, they can create a more balanced ventilation system.
Like ridge vents, gable vents specialise in expelling hot air from the attic. When paired with eave vents, they can keep the attic cool, regulating the temperature and controlling moisture.
Do Eave Vents Provide Any Other Benefits?
Along with the main purposes of eave vents, they can bring several other benefits to your home.
- By bringing in fresh air, they can improve the internal air quality in your home.
- They can lower the amount you have to pay for energy bills because they are an energy-efficient ventilation type.
- By expelling hot air, they can prevent ice dams from building on your roof.
What Are Some Common Questions Regarding Eave Vents?
Here are some FAQs regarding eave vents.
What is the Optimal Number of Eave Vents?
The optimal number of eave vents depends on multiple variables. For example, you need to consider the size of your home, the amount of eave roof space, and the type of eave vent you want.
You can get a professional installer to give you a quote if you’re unsure.
Am I More Likely to Have Pests Enter Through My Roof if I Have Eave Vents?
While the small size of the gaps in the eave vents limits the size of pests that can enter, they can still enter through the holes.
For example, small mice can squeeze through the gaps in eave vents, so you may find some in your wall cavities.
Are Eave Vents Suitable for an Exisiting Roof?
Eaves are suitable for an existing roof, but a roofer must make several considerations before installing them.
They need to consider the eave vent type, the current condition of your roof, and if your eaves need modifications before installation.
Final Thoughts on the Primary Purpose of Eave Vents
Eave vents are an excellent addition to a house because they can regulate the temperature in the attic, reducing the chance for mould to build up and cause structural damage. They can also prolong the life of your roof and help you save money on energy bills.
Remember, proper roof ventilation is essential if you want a long-lasting roof and a lack of mould and structural damage in your home.
Contact us on Rapidridge to enquire about our high-quality ventilation product.