How to Mix Gable & Roof Vents

Install gable vents as high as possible in the gable walls beneath the roof ridge. Gable vents are flat louvered wall vents that work by allowing hot air to rise and pass out of the attic. By installing gable vents on opposing sides of the roof, you’ll boost cross-draft circulation.

Mount soffit vents to encourage cooler air to flow into the attic as the hot air flows out of the gable vents. Soffit vents can be individual vents or a long continuous vent in the soffit, which is the underside of the roof edge, below the eaves.

Add other roof vents as needed. If your home has only one gable, you can install other types of static vents along the top of the roof, in addition to the single gable vent. These include hip vents, which are a few feet apart along the backside of a roof, or a ridge vent, which filters hot air out along the peak of the roof.

Boost circulation with a powered attic vent, regulated by a thermostat, which turns on the vent fan when the heat in the attic reaches a certain temperature. Attic vents draw cooler air in from the soffit vents, encouraging hot air to rise and exit the gable vents.