What's the verdict on attic fans?

[JSH]

The other option is to add passive roof turbines. They were popular in the part of Alabama we lived it. I think they are ugly so when a tornado damaged our roof we replaced ours with ridge vents.

[redpoint5]

Roof turbines are not highly regarded by the experts as far as I know.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Roof turbines are not highly regarded by the experts as far as I know.

Any particular reason why? They worked fine on my house and are dead simple. Of course some things that work well in one climate don't work in others.

[nemo]

Originally Posted by JSH

Any particular reason why? They worked fine on my house and are dead simple. Of course some things that work well in one climate don't work in others.

Here in hurricane country you need to remove and cap or cover and secure them. Depending on how long you wait you may be climbing around on a wet roof in the rain and wind.

[wdb]

I just set a circular saw to a depth that cut through shingles and plywood, then ran it across the roof on both sides just below the peak. Nailed the ridge vent over the opening. Cracked a brew.

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by wdb

I just set a circular saw to a depth that cut through shingles and plywood, then ran it across the roof on both sides just below the peak. Nailed the ridge vent over the opening. Cracked a brew.

You're starting to sell me on this idea.

[samwichse]

Originally Posted by wdb

I just set a circular saw to a depth that cut through shingles and plywood, then ran it across the roof on both sides just below the peak. Nailed the ridge vent over the opening. Cracked a brew.

Yep, that's pretty much what's in the video I linked above (well, except that particular product is a shingle-over).

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by JSH

The other option is to add passive roof turbines.

These are quite widespread in my country. Not only wind makes it work, their speed is also affected by the air temperature at the room where it's attached to. However, since its speed may slow down when the moisture in the air is high, I wouldn't hold my breath for it to work so well for the purpose of getting rid of moisture.

[COcyclist]

Ecky, I reroofed my house some years back and added a full length ridge vent and added soffit vents as well. The house previously had just gable vents on each end. My understanding is that the soffit vents allow cooler air to enter between the rafters and create a chimney effect out the ridge. I did this primarily to try to extend the life of my shingles and help prevent water damage from ice dams in winter.

FWIW, it is very easy to retrofit the ridge vent but I would buy some cap shingle and long nails to cover the cap so the color matches your existing roof. Cutting the rectangular holes for the soffit was less fun with the dust from the circular saw covering me as I worked over my head.

Also, I have a sun porch the full length of the west side of the house with a shed roof on it. That attic would make the sun porch unbearable in summer and even heat up the second story of the house on that side. I found a solar attic fan at the HD big box store and put it into that attic. It works for free and is so silent that I have to check to make sure it is still runs. It only runs during afternoon sun in summer but it has made an amazing difference in how cool the house and fully glassed-in porch stays so it must be working.

[Ecky]

Appreciated!

What I've decided to do is a combination of things: one very small (8") attic fan at the rear, on a thermostat and humidistat, double the venting at the front and rear, and a slight increase in soffit venting as well. A ridge vent would have been ideal, but it isn't in the cards this year.