The type and size of vents that you install influences how well your home is ventilated, and how effectively you can cool it. Likewise, some vents are suitable for use with each other - but which ones? And what’s the difference between a ridge vent and a soffit vent, or a whole-house fan and a whirlybird?
Exhaust fans
Kitchens and bathrooms can become very steamy and stuffy, and powered ventilation fans are an excellent way of providing fast, effective ventilation to these areas.
Whole house fan
Whole house fans are large, ceiling mounted fans designed to help to ventilate homes by sucking warm air up into the ceiling, and bringing cool air in from vents and windows.
Ridge vents
Hot air naturally rises, and ridge vents are an effective way of allowing this heat to easily escape through the highest point in a home - the ridge of the roof.
Soffit vents
Working in conjunction with ridge vents, soffit vents can create a natural flow of ventilation in the roof cavity, which allows heat to easily escape through the top of a house.
Foundation vents
An important part of some types of ventilation is to allow cool air into the lower parts of the house. Foundation vents allow cool air in at the lowest levels of the home.
Turbine vents / whirlybirds
Turbine vents, also commonly known as whirlybirds, provide effective natural ventilation through a ducted turbine mounted on the roof of a building.
Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs)
Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs), while they do use energy, are an efficient and effective way to ventilate a tightly sealed home while maintaining the temperature.
Windows as vents
When thinking about vents it's easy to get caught up in the details and forget that the most effective ventilation in a home almost always comes from its windows.
Wing walls
While not strictly vents in their own right, strategically placed wing walls or similar mechanisms can make a big difference to the way that air is directed into a house.