A turtle roof vent is an integral part of your roof’s ventilation. Ventilation is crucial in living spaces, the attic, and the ceiling. Some argue that these rarely visited parts of your home are even more critical to ventilating correctly.
If you are a roofer, you have probably seen how poor attic ventilation can damage a roof or commercial/residential property. The worst part is that this damage is easily preventable.
Unfortunetly, property owners tend to overlook their attic and roof ventilation conditions. In the following post, Roofer’s Guild explores roof and attic ventilation, particularly turtle vents.
Key Takeaway
Turtle Roof Vents are affordable, simple to install, and efficient, making them one of the most appealing ventilation solutions.
What is A Turtle Roof Vent?
A turtle roof vent, also known as a box vent or simply louver, is a type of attic and roof ventilation system. They work by taking in air from the lower eaves of the roof and allowing warmer air to rise out on the ridge.
Turtle vents are static, so they have no moving parts. Unlike turbine roof vents that rotate as the air escapes, turtle vents don’t move.
A turtle vent is distinguishable by a typically round cap, which makes it look like a turtle.
Purpose of a Turtle Roof Vent
The purpose of a turtle roof vent is to draw warm air and moisture out of your attic. Unfortunately, warm air and moisture can devastate your home or place of business.
Turtle vents are usually aligned on either side of a roof ridge in even increments. Since they are passive ventilation systems, you typically need more than one installed on your roof.
Moisture and warm air can cause all kinds of roofing and structural damage – especially in cold or humid months. These vents ensure that warm air rises out of your attic and gives it a route of escape over the ridge of your roof.
Turtle Roof Vent Benefits
A turtle roof vent offers several advantages when it comes to proper ventilation. You can check out some of the primary benefits below:
Simplicity
If you already have a static vent system on your roof (soffit vents, for example), then your turtle roof vent can be easily incorporated into the existing system.
Adding a turtle roof vent is relatively simple, except for some cuts that will need to be made into the roof’s underlayment.
Affordability
Since turtle vents are static systems (no moving parts), they are cheap and easy to manufacture. They are also reasonably easy to install, which makes them very affordable. You can purchase a turtle vent for as low as $10, not including installation.
Efficiency
In most cases, a turtle roof ventilation system will be all you need. This system will be enough to keep your attic cool and dry unless you live in the country’s extremely cold or humid areas.
What Can Happen if You Don’t Install A Turtle Roof Vent?
Turtle roof vents are just one of the various types of roof ventilation systems available, so it’s not the only way to ventilate your property.
Still, if you don’t have proper ventilation of some kind, many problems can arise, including:
Mold
When warm air and moisture are allowed to fester in the upper portions of your home, mold and mildew can start to form.
Shingle Damage
Moisture damage from inside your attic could also damage the shingles on top of your roof from the underside.
High Electricity Bills
When warm air is trapped in your attic, it will make your entire home hotter in the winter months. Proper ventilation will allow warm air to escape and keep your home cooler naturally.
Final Thoughts on Turtle Roof Vents
Turtle roof vents are affordable, efficient, and easy to integrate into an existing roofing system. Their use can prevent mold and shingle damage while reducing electricity bills. Investing in a turtle roof vent makes a lot of sense when you consider all of these factors.
