WHAT ARE SOFFIT VENTS?

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At any given moment, unseen forces like moisture, mold and animals are hard at work trying to destroy your home from within.  That is where soffit vents come in.  These vents are particularly important because they protect the interior of your roof and attic, which are often out of sight and therefore out of mind. Below is an explanation of  how soffits work to keep your home free from moisture damage.

What Is a Soffit Vent?

A soffit vent is a device that is installed underneath the eaves of a roof that allows for fresh air to get into the roof.  These vents are visible on the underside of the eaves. They create a continuous flow of fresh air throughout the roof and attic, which protects against moisture.

Most people only think of a roof as the shingles and nothing more.  But there are actually numerous components of a complete roofing system.  The soffit is one of them— an architectural feature that covers the exposed underside of your roof overhang.   A vent can also get installed in your soffit— appropriately called a soffit vent.  This helps regulate attic ventilation and prevent many issues. Let’s take a deeper look at what soffit vents are and how they benefit your home.

A soffit vent is an opening in the soffit itself that allows air to flow into the attic.  This is important because it helps circulate the air and prevent moisture build-up, which can lead to wood rot, mold growth, and other serious problems.

There are two types of soffit vents: passive and active.

• Passive vents are simply openings in the soffit that allow air to flow in.
• Active vents have a fan or other mechanism that helps move the air.

Most homes will have a combination of both types of vents.  The passive vents are usually located near the ridge of the roof, where hot air rises and can escape easily. The active vents are typically located lower down on the soffit, where they can help draw cooler air into the attic.

What Is the Difference Between Eaves and Soffits?

Eaves are the part of the roof that extend past the edge and hangs over the ground.  Soffits are vents installed within these eaves to allow airflow.

What Is the Difference Between Fascia and Soffits?

The fascia is the board that runs along the side of the overhang and is typically there for aesthetic purposes.  It’s essentially a trim, although it does provide some support to the shingles.

What Are the Benefits of Soffit Vents?

Soffit vents preserve energy, lengthen a roof’s lifespan and prevent moisture problems like mold and mildew.

Soffit vents are important for two main reasons: they help regulate temperature, and they help prevent moisture build-up.  You might remember learning that hot air rises in your science classes.  This means that the attic can get quite warm during the summer months.  If the air in the attic is allowed to build up, it can start to warp the wood and lead to other problems.

Soffit vents help by allowing that hot air to escape.  This keeps the attic cooler, which helps protect your home and prolong the life of your roof.  Moisture is also a big problem for attics.  If the air in the attic is too moist, it can cause wood rot, mold growth, and other serious issues..  Soffit vents held attic ventilation by allowing fresh air to circulate and keeping the moisture levels down.

Reduces Energy Consumption

A good, consistent flow of fresh air throughout the roof and attic will better prevent heat from escaping the home. This helps the A/C and heating units work less, which means you reduce energy consumption and therefore lower your energy bill.

Increases Roof Lifespan

Poor attic ventilation is one of the biggest reasons a homeowner might need to replace their roof early.  Proper ventilation will increase the lifespan of your roof by ensuring your attic is getting the fresh air it needs.

Prevents Black Mold

While it may seem strange that allowing cold air in the winter into your attic can improve insulation, the fact is that this fresh air helps ventilate moisture created in the interior home from activities like heating and showering and all the other things people do.  This further prevents toxic black mold from forming by starving it of moisture. This process also helps remove moisture in the summer as well, moving hot air out of the attic.

What Are the Downsides of Soffit Vents?

Soffit vents don’t hold up well against animals and the elements.

Vulnerable to Animals

Raccoons, bats, and other types of critters can tear off the soffit screens to get into your attic and set up shop.  As a result, you should inspect them regularly for damage.

Risk of Damage to the Roof

Because moist air can collect under soffits, they can risk damaging your roof as well as any siding in the general vicinity over time.  Watch for signs of damage and contact a professional if you are concerned about moist air build-up.

False Vents

Some older homes have soffit coverings underneath the eaves, but they are installed directly over wood and there’s no actual vent there.   You can determine if this is the case by removing the panel to see if there’s an option.  If not, hire a professional to convert them into vents.

What Are the Different Types of Soffit Vents?

There are four main types of soffit vents: individual, continuous, perforated, and circular.

Individual

This is probably the most common type of soffit vent.  They fit between joists under your eaves.  They’re called individual vents because it is just one vent all by itself, perhaps with a gap separating it from other individual vents.

Continuous

A continuous event runs along the entire underside of the eaves to maximize the amount of air the vents pull in.

Perforated

These vents are simply perforated vinyl siding that resemble regular vinyl siding, except with tiny holes.  They’re particularly good for keeping animals out.

Circular

These vents are less common because they don’t work as well as other types of soffit vents.  Because of their circular shape they may look like lights installed underneath the eaves, but they are vents.

Can You Have Too Much Soffit Ventilation?

It is possible to have too much soffit venting. Soffit vents are intake vents, and therefore they need to be balanced out by exhaust vents.  If your home is seriously out of balance between soffit and exhaust vents, your soffit vents could be allowing moisture build-up.

How Do You Know If Your Soffit Vents Are Working?

The best way to figure that out if your soffit vents are working is to climb into your attic and inspect them from the inside.  These vents can get blocked by insulation, which can result in severe mold build-up. Check each vent to ensure that there is nothing blocking the vents.