8 Best Types of Roof Vents for Ventilation

When purchasing a residential property, it's important to consider the design elements, such as proper ventilation and airflow. The type of vent you choose should be based on the design of the house and the climate of the location where your home is situated.

Here is a basic guide on roof vents, their different types, and why they are important.

Airflow and Ventilation

Installing a proper ventilation system is very important to ensure proper airflow in your home. Ventilation systems also affect the indoor air quality in your home. While wall vents, balconies, and deck arrangements are ideally suited for flats and apartments, bungalows, villas, and duplex apartments require special roof vents.

Hot air tends to rise, and cooler air sinks to the bottom. This is why your home attic space may tend to become hotter and require more ventilation. Different types of roof vents can be used to ensure that hot air from the attic or top floor is released.

Types of Roof Vents You Should Know About

Here are some of the most common roof vents used in designing and constructing houses in India. 

• Ridge Vents - Ridge vents are some of the most popular roof vent options for use in India. These are installed along the length of the roof and have an excellent hot air release mechanism. Ridge vents are often used with a vent cover for aesthetic purposes.
• Static Vents - Villas and bungalows typically have static vents spaced evenly across their roofs. These vents provide moderate ventilation but do not require any external power or wind turbines. As the air in the upper levels of the house or attic warms up, it is naturally pushed out through these vents. Static vents do not require any energy source and are low maintenance.
• Turbine Vents - Although more expensive than static vents, turbine vents use wind energy to rotate and suck out the hot air. This makes them a worthwhile investment for those looking to increase ventilation and reduce heat buildup in their attic. Turbine vents are also installed are regular intervals on the roof.
• Outlet Vents - Outlet vents are usually used in combination with an HVAC system or a fan-based hot air removal system. The outlets are guarded by different types of shades. Some are used in combination with vacuum vent systems. The number of outlet vents your home has depends on the size of your home.
• Intake Vents – unlike the others in this list, intake vents allow fresh air to enter the attic space through the roof. Intake vents are usually installed on the side elevations, but if your house has a slanted roof, this may be a good option as well. Intake vents often have air filters that keep pollutants and dust from entering the home.

Powering Roof Vents

Static roof vents are not connected to a power source. Other types of roof vents may be connected to an energy source that powers the system, which helps remove the hot air. There are three types of roof vents categorised by their power source –

• Solar-powered Roof Vents
• Wind-powered roof vents
• Wired Roof Vents

Ventilation in Flats and Apartments

Modern apartment buildings use the above-mentioned air vents in combination with other systems like centralised HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) units, air ducts, wall vents etc. In large projects and high-rises, roof vents are usually installed for service sheds, closed parking areas, cottages, pavilions, and security buildings which have a single storey.

If you are looking at buying a flat or a duplex apartment on the topmost floor of a building, you may want to discuss the installation of roof vents with the developer. If you are planning to buy into a villa-style home, air vents are an excellent choice for keeping the home cool.

Conclusion

Roof vents are an important part of the home design for standalone buildings, bungalows, duplex apartments, or villas. Understanding the house design and the various options available to you will help you make the right choice.  As an investor or home buyer, you must understand the type of roof vent installed and also learn more about the care and maintenance needs of the roof vent installed in your home.