Ridge Vent vs Powered Vent Fan
Last Post 24 Mar 2020 11:24 PM by A W Warn. 3 Replies.
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DoubleHUser is Offline
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19 Mar 2020 02:18 AM
Hi All, About to replace the roof on a detached two-car garage, heated (only when I'm working on a cold day as needed), unfinished inside, no ceiling. Previous owner installed a powered vent fan (pictured, about halfway up the rafters), no ridge vent. New roof will have a ridge vent (it might even be code where I live, not sure), but I'm wondering if I should keep the fan or have the roofers remove it if it makes no sense together with the ridge vent. Any advice appreciated. Thanks.
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19 Mar 2020 02:20 AM
sorry, first (and second) posts here, apparently pic attachments do not work.
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19 Mar 2020 03:52 PM
Remove the vent fan.

Roof venting is first & foremost about purging moisture to keep the roof deck from rotting. Installing a ridge vent makes the exit-point for the air at the highest possible location, guaranteeing that the entire roof deck gets (convective) air flow from stack-effect pressure differences. A ridge venting scheme also needs corresponding soffit vents, to guarantee that the lower part of the roof deck gets flow as well. A roof fan at the midpoint doesn't guarantee where the outdoor air is coming from, only where it's leaving, and it significantly depressurizes the entire space. In a garage a large fraction of the entering air would be leakage around the garage door, and most of the air flow would be short-circuited direct to the van (or ridge vent, if there are no soffit vents).

Is the garage currently (or will it be) insulated ?

Where is this house located? (By IECC climate zone: https://basc.pnnl.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/IECCmap_Revised.jpg?itok=2R5NbX29 )
A W WarnUser is Offline
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24 Mar 2020 11:24 PM

A safety issue: NO FAN unless it has an explosion proof motor.
If you happen to have a gasoline spill, or other flammable liquid like paint/lacquer thinner, inside the garage an exhaust fan motor starting might create a spark in the motor which can ignite the fumes. BOOM!
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