Rafter vents are channels installed between rafters in an attic to improve ventilation. They create an air gap between insulation and rafters and should be placed close to the edge of the attic wall. Joist vents allow air to travel along the slope of the attic roof, reducing ventilation, air quality, and humidity issues. Rafter vents are unnecessary in uninsulated attics or homes with special attic ventilation. They should extend just beyond the edges of the soffit and continuing them down to the eardrum vents is often unnecessary.
A rafter vent is a channel used to improve attic ventilation. These foam or plastic channels are installed between rafters in an attic to create an air gap between the insulating materials and the rafters. Strut vents may also be known as insulating baffles because they are typically installed as part of the insulating process.
Installers place a rafter vent in the void between each set of roof rafters. The vent should be placed close to the edge of the attic wall along the soffit to ensure it works properly. You can use shears or utility knives to cut these vents to your desired length, and different widths are available to meet the needs of different frame designs. Staples or nails are used to hold the vent in place. Once these vents have been installed, blankets or loose insulation can be placed over the attic and between the rafters.
The joist vent allows air to travel freely along the slope of the attic roof. The channel created by each rafter vent provides a clear path between the soffit vents and the gable vents in a standard attic. Without a vent in place, the insulation could easily block the soffit vents and prevent fresh air from entering the space.
By helping maintain proper airflow within an attic, joist vents help reduce ventilation, air quality, and humidity issues in your home. Providing a path for moisture to escape from the attic helps reduce mold and mildew problems, which can pose a threat to health and property if left unchecked. Proper ventilation keeps the air in the attic from feeling stale and also helps improve the overall air quality within the home. Finally, sufficient attic ventilation is key to allowing excess heat to escape, which helps keep your energy bills in check.
In an uninsulated attic, there is generally no need to install rafter vents. These vents are also unnecessary in homes that rely on a special form of attic ventilation instead of traditional soffit vents. If insulation board or foam board is installed in a carefully controlled manner and builders are careful to avoid blocking soffit vents, rafter vents may not be necessary. In most applications, a rafter vent should extend just beyond the edges of the soffit. Continuing these vents down to the eardrum vents is often a waste of money and does little to improve ventilation.
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