Soffit Vents

• The "soffit" is the area underneath the eaves, or the part of the roof that hangs over the wall, and a soffit vent is placed underneath the eaves where the roof meets the wall. Soffit vents allow air to move freely between the attic and the exterior of the home. With these types of roofing vents, cooler air is drawn up from the wall, and hot air is usually vented through other roof vents. There are long continuous soffit vents that run the entire length of the eave, and there are individual soffit vents that fit in between joists or supports. Soffit vents should be installed on either side of the home to equalize pressure.
  
  

Gable Vents

• Gable vents, also called wall louvers, are installed on the part of the walls under the peak of the roof called the gables. They are called wall louvers because these vents are usually covered in overlapping slats called louvers that keep out rain but allow for airflow. These types of roofing vents allow for air flow through the attic or under the "roof deck," or the space just under the roof. Wall louvers are a very basic type of roof vent, and they should be used in conjunction with other venting because they can create pockets of hot air if used alone.
  
  

Turbine and Fan Vents

• Some roof venting types have fans or turbines installed to help move air through the roof deck. In general, turbines are fans that don't have a motor attached, and they are moved by air pressure and wind. Turbine vents can be installed in gables or on top of the roof. Fans are electric and they spin at a regular rate; some fan vents use power from the house and others are powered by solar panels.
  
  

Ridge Venting

• A ridge vent is installed on the very top of the roof, called the peak or the ridge. These vents are long vents that run the length of the roof, have a cover to keep out rain and weather and allow hot air to vent from the roof. They work much like soffit vents and are also used in combination with soffit vents.