Getting my roof replaced. I have the option of ridge vents or solar-powered vents.

I have a high-pitched roof, and it currently has slant vents, but I think they are too low to get rid of any heat trapped at the peak.

I like the ridge vents being up high and no maintenance.

Powered vents seem worthwhile, but I worry about maintenance. Anything I have had solar, the panels seem to breakdown and blister with a couple of years.

Thoughts?

I am a big fan of Kennedy and Attic Breeze. They have good warranties and they have thermostats so they only truly run when it's hot.

I have installed these in Houston, San Antonio, Austin...and everywhere in between. I have seen them handle moderate hail pretty well. But, where you are (I think) you may be subject to more significant hail that my region of Central, South, and Gulf Coast of Texas. So, be aware of that.

Ridge vents are a nice alternative, but again, where you are, you need the right ones that have the proper mesh to prevent blown in snow, again, something we don't deal with.

I like the active solar vents because most houses simply don't have adequate ventilation and some houses don't have enough ridge to put enough ridge vent anyway. Solar vents allow me to hit ventilation requirements. with 1-3 vents in most cases. The main reason people don't install these is cost. They are not cheap. I can often upgrade ridge vent with insurance proceeds, but I can't absorb solar vents the same way. So, in those cases, ridge vent may be a cost effective improvement for ventilation.

No matter which way you go, make sure you make your own calculations for Attic Breeze or Ridge Vent based on your house. Your roofer should be able to do this, but as they say "Trust, but verify". Also, make sure you have good soffit intake for both options.

No doubt there are plenty of folks here that have both and can offer their first hand experience. So, stay tuned!

Thanks. You are right, my location is near OKC and hail and snow are a factor.

Is it a bad idea (or only marginally better) to do solar fans and ridge vents?

I suppose you'd have to be careful where you place the solar fans so they don't just intake air from the ridge vents.

One or the other. Not both.

I'm in north Dallas and replaced two turtle vents with solar last summer. I think they're an improvement but the $375/ea is tough to justify and I don't think the benefit is worth the cost over ridge vents. I can totally see them going out in the next 5 years from either weather or from running nearly all day in the summers.

The only reason I didn't go for ridge last summer was because I already had 5 turtle vents cut into the roof.

I've installed these as direct replacements for turtles and they have been cost effective.

https://www.4seasonsvents.com/

If you are slightly under ventilated with turtles these will still pick up the difference. No thermostat though…if it's light out, these are moving air.

I have not had failures with solar vents and the more expensive ones carry 10 years warranties against it. The electric vents die in less than 5 years but you can replace the motors if someone was so inclined.

Reporting Aggieland SOP if getting a new roof = ridge/soffit venting IF .... the calculations prove they give enough sq.in. per attic volume. If not, THEN we are forced to use spot venting and maybe a LOT of them.
Other areas' SOP may vary.

Calculations your roofer should be providing ..... DIY below
https://www.owenscorning.com/en-us/roofing/components/vent-calculator

https://www.gaf.com/en-us/resources/ventilation-calculator

https://www.atlasroofing.com/roof-ventilation/calculator

That's a better price than mine for sure.

The 10 year warranty cover labor too ?


You have any attic breeze's that have been out there 5 plus years ?

I have looked into them and the lifetime parts warranty sounds good but for 800-1000 each I would like some kind of labor warranty and that kind of turned me off and as previously stated every solar fan 5 plus years that I have ever removed was either non working or barely moving the fan at all so I am biased.

JP76 said:

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The 10 year warranty cover labor too ?


You have any attic breeze's that have been out there 5 plus years ?

I have looked into them and the lifetime parts warranty sounds good but for 800-1000 each I would like some kind of labor warranty and that kind of turned me off and as previously stated every solar fan 5 plus years that I have ever removed was either non working or barely moving the fan at all so I am biased.

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Labor is not going to be covered. And they are not cheap, that's for sure, but that's also why i don't install a ton.

Frankly, I havn't had to test out the warranty. I have not seen one fail within 5 years and I havn't gotten complaints for those that are older. Not that that means they are working. I feel they could last 10 years simply because they don't run as harshly as a electric powered vent.

Almost every electric powered one I come across is dead. But, you can replace those motors from the box store if you are reasonably handy and comfortable with that sort of thing.

I figure both of these options have the potential to require paying an electrician for labor of a roofer for labor. Pick your poison, I guess.

My least favorite thing is replacing a electric one, 7/10 times the HO doesn't know where the electric switch to kill power is, so I do them hot, which is OK, but not my favorite thing to do in August on the peak of a 9/12. HAHAHA....