Who does this installation? I want them to be electric to blow out the hot air in summer or cold air in winter. GW
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"or cold air in winter"
Why do you want to blow out the cold air in winter and what would replace it?
Does not make sense.
Hi Bill,
I have had problems with loud noises in my attic in my Centex built home of two years new. They brought out the engineer, architect, truss designer and the framer at one meeting and said all was to spec. I have a hip style roof system. On one section, a separate roof over my master bedroom with a vaulted ceiling and an upstairs bedroom, bath and small living room, there are 4 Ohagan roof vents. On my single story side with a entry and hall, living, dining, bath, kitchen, nook and living room there are two Ohagans. The inside of the attic on the single store that makes a L to two bedrooms, hallway and laundry is separated from the rest of the first element of the single story by a 1/2" sheet of plywood. That part of the roof system has another two Ohagans. A couple of the guys that came out said that the single story roofs didn't look like they had enough ventilation. I want to go ahead and pay to have the roofer come out and install electric fans, one for each single story attic system. An electrician will do the electrical side of the job. It seems to me that constant air movement in summer and winter will help with the attic heaving and hence the noises. GW
I've never heard of "attic heaving" noises before. You sure you don't have squirrels up there or some such?
Re noise, the rooftop fans aren't silent, and they get noisier as they get older (though the "turbine" vents are worse). They also have a relatively limited life -- anywhere from two years to maybe ten tops. And you especially don't want a rooftop fan where it can't be accessed for service -- eg, in a scissor truss roof over a vaulted ceiling.
If you believe you don't have adequate roof ventilation then the first thing to do would be to assure that existing vents are adequate and sufficient for the area of the roof, and that, in particular, insulation isn't blocking eaves vents. Code varies, but generally requires around a square inch of ventilation (divided evenly between rooftop and eves) for every two square feet of roof. Lots of people prefer to go with one square inch per square foot.
Greg, are you talking about truss movement?
Noises when the bottom chords move relative to the interior walls?
The builder's guys are saying ventilation will cure that?
Joe H
Joe,
If your assumption is correct that it is a movement issue between the truss and the interior walls, what can be done about it? Because I see now that you have hit it on the head as far as what is going on. GW
Edited 6/25/2004 9:47 pm ET by Greg Warren
Simpson makes clips to attach the walls, they have slots so the truss can move up and down.
This used to be one of the FAQs, usually about drywall cracking at the ceiling/wall intersection.
If you have noises, I'd guess they have the trusses nailed solid to the top plates of the interior walls.
Calling Boss Hog, but I don't think venting is going to fix this one.
Joe H
I would assume that the truss-wall connection is the same installation on the roof system that makes no noise as compared to the one that does. But the venting system on the ridge is larger on the no noise roof. That is why I have made this deduction for more roof vents. Maybe I should do more Ohagans rather than the noise making electric ones. GW
Did you check your soffit vents, including a check to be sure they aren't blocked by insulation?
Not yet, but I will check. Thanks
I've never heard of noises being made because of anything to do with trusses, or truss-to-wall connections.
Maybe if you started a thread describing your exact symptoms you'd get some responses.The world has achieved brilliance without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. [General Omar Bradley]
I'm not a big fan of the electricla fans. (pun intended)
Going with gravity vents is cheaper and better, IMHO. They work ALL the time, an don't take any electricity.
The radical of one century is the conservative of the next. [Mark Twain]