Ridge vents and turbines are two popular choices for attic ventilation, but each has its pros and cons
Ridge vents and turbines provide effective ventilation but are different.
Ridge vents fit across roof ridge lines and are hidden.
Ridge vents create passive airflow ventilation.
Turbines are visible, whimsical, and provide active ventilation.
Your attic is more than just a storage space for your camping gear and artificial Christmas tree. It plays a key role in your home’s energy efficiency—and can majorly affect your heating and cooling bills if not properly ventilated. Ridge vents and turbines are both effective for attic ventilation, though each has its own set of pros and cons.
Ridge vents and turbines are two types of roof vents, both of which provide effective ventilation by moving hot air out, lowering humidity, and helping attics maintain healthy airflow. But they have some major differences, too.
Ridge vents stretch across the entire ridge line of your roof and are basically invisible, blending into roofing with the help of a matching cap; from that vantage point, they allow hot, moist air to move up and out of the roof via passive airflow. Turbines, on the other hand, are very distinctive dome-shaped vents equipped with spinning blades that harness the power of the wind to actively draw hot air out of an attic.
As the name suggests, ridge vents run the length of your roof’s ridge, right where it peaks. These vents fit perfectly around the apex, disguised with matching shingles for a sleek and subtle look.
Ridge vents cover the most square footage when it comes to attic ventilation; that, coupled with their location at the very top of the roofline—the place to which the hottest air rises—gives them significant advantages. With proper installation and the right accompanying intake vents, like soffit vents, they provide better passive airflow than other roof vents. Note the emphasis on the word “passive” here: Warm air rises and leaves the attic space naturally, but nothing is actively drawing it out.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Invisible—blends into the roof’s ridge | Must be installed correctly to function well |
| Covers the length of the roof for maximum airflow | Incorrect installation can allow rain, snow, and pests to get in |
| Can be an effective passive venting system when coupled with soffit intake vents | Not the best fit for short stretches of roof or complicated rooflines |
| Great option for cooler climates that need only passive ventilation | May not provide enough airflow for steep, tall, large roofs |
| Keeps out pests without sacrificing function | More expensive to install, especially on an existing roof |
Best for:
Homes with long, continuous roofline ridges
Homes in cooler, less humid climates where passive ventilation is enough
Homes with coordinated ventilation systems, including soffit vents, that draw in a lot of cool air to help push hot air up and out through the ridge vents
Homeowners who want invisible attic vents that blend into roofing
New roof installations, as they can be incorporated into the roof replacement cost and process
Homeowners who hire a qualified roofing contractor to install vents correctly
Ridge vents are very popular, and local roofing contractors often recommend them because they are extremely effective at keeping attics well ventilated, especially when they are part of a passive ventilation system that has enough intake vents to draw air in and help force hot, moist air out. Since they span the entire length of the roof ridge, where the hottest attic air collects, these vents create ample exit space for heat and moisture. This is optimal for homes in cooler, less humid locations that only need passive ventilation.
Their invisibility is also a perk for many homeowners. Most models are built with a protective barrier to keep out pets and to block moisture from weather and then covered with a cap that matches the rest of the roofing. When installed correctly, they do their work without needing any maintenance, letting in unwanted pests and moisture, or changing the look of the home.
Along with being the greatest upside of ridge vents, their location is also their biggest downfall. Since they are rather thin and rely on their length to create enough room for hot air to vent out, ridge vents function best on roofs that have long, solid ridge lines; homes with complicated roofs or many small sections of roofing are not the best fit. Likewise, they often cannot provide enough airflow in homes with very tall, steep roofs with big attic spaces.
Location also makes them vulnerable to water intrusion and pests if not installed correctly by an expert. Their length and location makes them generally more expensive to install, but that expense will be less if you install them during the construction of a new roof. Conversely, if you are hoping to add more ventilation to an existing roof, ridge vents can be very cost prohibitive and complicated to install.
Turbines are aptly named, as they are small wind turbines that live atop your roof. They do not blend in as ridge vents do, but they are not an eyesore by most people’s standards.
Like ridge vents, turbines do not use any electric power; however, they are not passive. They work with wind energy to actively move warm air up and out of the attic space. As wind blows, it pushes the circular-mounted blades inside the turbine vent, spinning the fan and pulling attic air outside. In most cases, you should install two or three turbine vents across a rooftop to get the best possible attic ventilation.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Gives visual interest to roofs | Very visible (can be a pro if you like the look) |
| Less expensive to install | Most homes require at least two for best results |
| Active ventilation for hot, humid climates and large attic spaces | Needs regular maintenance and lubrication to keep it spinning quietly |
| Can function from anywhere on top of a roof, not just the ridge line | Requires wind speed of at least 5 miles per hour to work effectively |
| Easier to add to existing roofs | Can allow in pests, rain, and leaks |
Best for:
Homes that benefit from the whimsical, old-world look of turbine vents
Homeowners that like the visual interest turbines add to roofs
Homes in hot, humid climates that require active ventilation
Homeowners who want to add ventilation to existing roofs
Homes with complicated roof lines or attics with small spaces or barriers to natural airflow
Homes that lack room for vents that require ridge placement
Homeowners on a tighter budget
Windy areas with most days having breezes of at least 5 miles per hour
Homeowners that want active ventilation without the expense and maintenance of electric- or solar-powered attic fans
Turbines have been around for more than a century, which attests to their usefulness and ease of installation and gives them a nostalgic feel. Many people like the appearance of turbine vents, also known as whirlybird or whirlygig vents. They give visual interest to roofs and a specific era appeal to vintage and period homes. Even better, they do not need to sit at the roof line, so you can install them almost anywhere on a roof.
Turbines are also extremely effective and are actually superior at ventilating homes in especially hot and humid climates where more dynamic airflow is necessary. Their function means that they are able to actively pull hot, humid air up and out of an attic, keeping it cooler, lowering home energy bills, dehumidifying to prevent musty smells and the growth of mildew, and improving overall home air quality. Their flexible, small-footprint installation means they are less expensive and easier to install, even on existing roofs.
If you are not one of those people who finds turbines whimsical or attractive, their very visible nature can be a con; there are few good ways to hide a turbine sprouting from your roof. And most roofs will need more than one—usually at least two or three for the average-sized home. That also means more openings on your roof, which, if not sealed correctly, can provide a door for pests, let in water from rain and snow, and form leaks from shoddy or degrading flashing.
Turbines need regular maintenance and lubrication to keep spinning parts dirt-free and moving quietly and smoothly. Relatedly, they also require some wind in order to spin the blades that make their active ventilation possible, so they can fall still on those hot, windless summer days when you most want them to work.
From how they look to what they cost, let’s take a closer look at how these two vents compare against one another.
Anytime you are creating an opening in your roof, as you would with turbines or most other roof vents, you are also creating a revolving door for pests. Small animals like birds, rats, and squirrels can enter your home through the gaps. Pests can even enter through dryer vents and other types of vents as well.
One major benefit of ridge vents over turbines is that, when installed correctly, they do not create a secret entryway for pests. While there are options for blockages, these might hinder the turbine’s performance. Depending on the wildlife situation in your area, this could play a significant role in your decision.
Ridge vent costs are higher than what you would pay for a few turbines. Again, this is because the vent spans the entire length of the roof rather than just a few specific spots. Still, homeowners who value a more subtle look might find the extra cost worth it.
Of course, when and where you install the vents will impact the cost. Both types of vents are more expensive to add to existing roofs and less expensive to install at the same time as a new roof; however, turbines are generally less expensive to add in either case, as they take up less linear space and are simply less intrusive to roofing, so installation will be faster and easier, cutting down on labor costs when you hire a local attic fan installer.
This depends on your aesthetics and goals. Ridge vents are usually invisible, blending in with the rest of the roof materials, while turbines are highly visible and can add visual interest to roofs. Most homes will require more than one turbine, so think carefully about spacing and location to optimize visual interest.
Turbines are easier to install because they can go almost anywhere on the roof and require just a single hole straight down into the attic, whereas ridge vents must be installed across the whole length of the very top of the roof for best results.
While turbines provide active ventilation and ridge vents are passive, both work without any additional electrical or solar power. This means they do not require any resources other than natural airflow and wind. Since both help to keep attics cooler, which keeps homes more temperate, they reduce the load on your HVAC system and save energy.
Due to their active ventilation method, however, when you have enough turbines installed in the right places and they have enough wind to power them, turbines can remove hot air much faster than ridge vents, keeping homes even cooler and thus using less air conditioning. This gives them a slight edge over passive airflow ridge vents.
When comparing ventilation systems made of high-quality materials that are installed correctly, both ridge vents and turbines require little upkeep and can last as long as your roof does.
Ridge vents do not need regular maintenance, but they will benefit from the occasional inspection; if they become clogged, or if they crack, break, or leak, you will want to catch the problem sooner rather than later, so you can fix it. Turbines need regular inspection for debris or dirt that can clog the spinning parts; moving parts also require lubrication so they continue to move freely without squeaking.
It seems intuitive that ridge vents and turbines installed together would lead to better airflow. After all, more vents must mean more ventilation, right? Surprisingly enough, that is not the case.
In actuality, mixing two different types of exhaust vents—which includes ridge vents, gable vents, turbine vents, and several others—is counterproductive. This is because it disrupts the circuit of your attic’s airflow. Existing gable vents need sealing for the same reason if you are going with a roof ridge vent.
If you want a more effective pairing, supplementing ridge vents with multiple small soffit vents is a more efficient way of moving warm air up and out.
