# What Is a Gable Vent?
Most all homes are equipped with multiple vents. You will find them on the underside of your soffits and you will have one on a gable end. Some older homes may not have gable vents because building code standards at the time the house was built were not as strict as they are now.
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Location
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A gable vent is typically found on the end of a house, over the garage. A gable is the portion of a house that comes to a peak. Many homes will have multiple gables and some have multiple gable vents.
Features
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A gable vent comes in different sizes and shapes, depending on the builder and the design of the home.
Materials
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The gable vents found on the average home are made out of wood and have screen wire backing.
Function
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A gable vent is designed to allow hot air to escape from the attic. Attics become extremely hot in the summer and a way is needed for that air to escape.
Potential
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Without gable vents, attics are a potential source for fires if there is no way for constant extreme heat to escape.
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