Gable vents are a helpful addition to your home's attic, as they circulate air to keep your HVAC system from working overtime in extremely hot or cold temperatures. Although your HVAC system probably doesn't heat and cool your attic, the hot air rises year-round, though, and when you simply let the heat collect in your attic, the things you store up there can be harmed by the heat and humidity. Moreover, that heat doesn't just stay put; in the summer months, this heat radiates through the ceiling and makes your air conditioner have to work even harder to keep the house cool. In the winter, moisture can collect and cause mold and mildew. If left unchecked, these could spell serious trouble for the structure of your home. Proper ventilation can eliminate these concerns, and the installation is simple.
Gable vents are different in design than soffit vents or ridge vents in that they are constructed with design in mind. Since they are on the outside of you home, they have a little bit of character to complement their function. Other types of vents are inconspicuously located under eaves and overhangs or atop the roof. Gable vents serve the same purpose, but with some pizzazz. Gable vents are typically located on a home's exterior wall, near the vertex of the roof, and you can choose the size you want your vent to be, as well as what shape. Some popular choices are basic round, octagonal, triangular, or diamond-shaped. Gable vents are most often louvered, and can be wood, aluminum, or vinyl. It is best to match the material to that of your home, although some metal varieties can add a pleasant contrast to your home's exterior walls. A layer of mesh behind the louvers helps to keep bugs, birds, and other intruders from entering your attic.
If you want even better ventilation and home efficiency, consider adding a ventilator to your vent configuration. While the gable vent is handsome, and as hard working as soffit vents and ridge vents when it comes to helping regulate your attic temperature and preventing moisture from collecting, it could always benefit from having a sidekick or even a few. If your attic is large, you should probably have ridge vents throughout, to help the gable vent circulate the air.
Gable vents and their less showy counterparts are great because they require almost no maintenance, they're inexpensive to install, and they cut heating and cooling costs. If you have the resources to install several vents to create a working ventilation system, then you will get the maximum benefit of your vents. If you do not wish to do this, you might consider purchasing a ventilator to work alongside your gable vent. A ventilator is basically a fan connected to your gable vent that pulls air in or pushes it out, preventing it from stagnating. Using a ventilator gives you the benefits of a full ventilation system without the additional installation.
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