turbine vents

[rminor]

I live in a park in Florida that consists of newer doublewides. I've noticed a few have turbine vents on their roofs. They think it helps keep the small area between ceiling and roof cooler and thus save on air conditioning. The AC ducts also run through this area so any cooling would help that too. My question is has anyone used these vents and can add their two cents to it? Thanks

[admin]

FROM AskTheBuilder.com

"A turbine vent is a passive ventilation device. The popular ridge and soffit ventilation systems and the traditional metal pot vents are also passive ventilation systems. In contrast, an active ventilation device might be an electric powered whole house fan or a powered roof ventilator. Passive vents work for free and in almost all instances are silent....

Depending upon the diameter of the vents and the wind speed outdoors, the turbines can expel vast quantities of humid air before it becomes a problem. A small 12 inch diameter turbine vent with a constant wind speed of 5 miles per hour (mph) can remove 347 cubic feet of air per minute (cfm) from the attic space. A single 14 inch diameter turbine vent that is subjected to 15 mph winds can expel up to 1,342 cfm of air! If the winds are still, the vents still allow air to drift up and out of the attic space, although not nearly as much.

It is also a myth that turbine vents remove warm air from attic spaces in winter months. If the air temperature in your attic space is very warm while it is cold outdoors, I maintain that you might have inadequate insulation and/or you are up in your attic on a bright sunny day where the radiant energy of the sun is heating the attic space.

However, it is possible for turbine vents to pull conditioned air from the inside of your home. Modern building principals and most model building codes mandate that you have soffit ventilation vents that act as intake air locations. As air is pulled from the attic space by the turbine vent, ridge vent or even an electric powered fan, the same amount of air must be allowed to flow into the attic space where the roof passes over the exterior walls of the home. If there is not enough soffit air coming in, then the vents may create a partial vacuum in the attic space. To relieve this pressure, the vacuum may pull air from the inside of your home. This is not a good idea."

[rminor]

Thanks for the info. My home is a 2001 Palm Harbor and has a continuous soffit vent down each side but no vents near the peak. So I think I might install a couple of the 12" this winter.

[rmurray]

Your PH is one of the most energy efficient homes on the market. In addition o the soft vents you will have 4 to 6 passive metal roof vents..The home is carefully engineered for energy savings..PH was the first ENERGY STAR approved manufactured home builder and the Florida Plant was used as an example/model for many competitors who want Energy Star designation..2003 PH won the highest Energy savings award given by the program..I doubt you will save much and might well end up worse..

Here is what US Dept of Energy has to say

http://www.baihp.org/partners/BuilderPa ... harbor.htm

individual plant info here..

http://www.baihp.org/casestud/PALM/INDEX.HTM

Good Luck if you try this project...

[rminor]

I don't see any vents on mine.

[rminor]

We took our walk this morning and I looked at the other houses. Almost all had roof vents. They must have run out of them the day they built mine. So, a dark green roof and no way for the hot air to get out. I'll be installing something this winter.

[admin]

Before you start making modifications you might want to get some input from the builder. Even if your home is no longer under warranty I'm sure they will be happy to assist you with the engineering information you should have to move in the best direction. You can contact Palm Harbors FL factory

605 S. Frontage Road
Plant City, FL 33563
(800) 729-4363 - toll free
(813) 752-1368 - phone

Ask For
Quality Manager, Donald Ziebarth

[rminor]

I'll do that. The Plant City factory is only about 20 miles away. I bought the home when it was 1 1/2 years old so I haven't talked to them. Thanks