I have a head-scratcher for everyone and I sincerely hope there is an expert or two who can help me solve my problem. I have a home with vaulted T&G ceilings upstairs, and a central ridge vent running the length of the roof. My problem is this—every time the wind blows greater than 10 MPH, we get noise (similar to the sound you hear when you face the wind). Living near the coast on a mountain top means we get regular fall/winter winds anywhere from 5-60 MPH. I’m tired of losing sleep. I even contacted the manufacturer of the vent who said they’ve never had this problem before, but sent me some ridge vent baffle (a metal L channel) that should have done the trick. But a fall storm yesterday (wind averaged about 15-20 with gusts to 42) proved that this was ineffectual.
Any roofer/builders out there who build in windy areas–HELP PLEASE!
Replies
Though I have not tried it yet, Cor-a-vent has a ridge vent system which I think they call the "Extreme" which has flaps which lay on the roof until the wind picks up the flap and closes the vent. The intent is to stop water from entering, but I assume it would stop the wind as well.
It's a Coravent up there now...and the baffle they sent essentially does what the X-treme does---block blowing rain from entering the ridge vent. But no luck when it comes to wind noise. Coravent was great trying to help, but now I'm ready to do whatever it takes to make this problem go away! Even if I have to tear the ridge vent off and do something different!
Are you absolutely certain it's the ridge vent making the noise? I've never heard of ridge vent making noise before.
Have you been up on the roof when the wind is blowing?Can atheists get insurance for acts of God?
I have been on the roof when the wind blows and of course it's hard to hear the noise when you are outside as the wind is blowing in your ears at the same time!
But I've been in the house working up near the central ridge beam (about 16' up from floor level), and trust me, the noise is DEFINITELY coming from the vent.
When I read your post I too thought about the Cor-a-vent ridge with a flap. Since your using that particular product, the noise may not be from the air going in on the windward side of the vent but the air being pulled out the leeward side.
I would do a little experimenting before taking the vent off. The next time the wind picks up use something such a duct tape to close off the entire vent, do each side of the vent separate then both sides checking the noise level each time.
This should provide you a lot of clues as to what is going on.
Scott R.
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. It's funny, I thought about using the duct tape idea awhile back, but thought it was too crazy...guess I was wrong there.
Here's another factor: The only time we've had high winds that the ridge did NOT make any noise was after a big snow storm covered up the ridge and roof completely.
I have a roofer coming by tomorrow to look over the situation as well. If he's stumped, I'm going to buy some more duct tape at Costco and try that out. I can't get up there now as it's pouring rain and gusting about 30 MPH....
First thing I'd try is to decrease the soffit vent area equally across the overhang. Sounds like your location is making the ridge vent draw too much air. I've cut new outlet box holes in old houses and had the inside of the walls sound like a frieght train.
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
I had two 4" round vents per each roof bay cut into the soffits, and was told the problem was I needed larger soffits. So I took out the 4" rounds and put in larger vents. It had no effect on the sound.
Just a WAG guess unbiased and unburdened by facts, information, theory, concept or reality.
I say the problem is not the ridge vent taking in too much air but the windward soffit is admitting too much air and the ridge vent is making noise as the air is forced out on the lee side of the ridge. A way to test this nonsense would be to grab the handyman's secret weapon, duct tape, and cover the soffit vents on the windward side and see if this helps.
If this works I get my junior space case merit badge so let me know how it goes.
BTW. If it doesn't I get my senior space case merit badge and a subscription to Metaphysical Engineering Monthly to study.
haven't heard of a ridge vent making that noise but what I have heard has been the downspout on the gutter . Next time it blows like that put your finger between the gutter and the house and see if you feel a vibration or the sound change. Not promising anything but its worth a check.
Thanks for the idea, but it is definitely coming from the ridge. I was up in my rafters on Saturday, and it was definitely coming from above my head...
Hopefully the mystery will be solved tomorrow when the roofer arrives (knowing my luck, the winds will die down to nada and he won't be able to hear it himself.)
Just a though, but what does it look like from the attic side?
I am wonder if they just cut a very narrow slite in the sheathing and that is where the whisting comes from.
Thanks for the thought....
The upstairs roof is a vaulted ceiling of 2x6 T&G fir, with a layer of felt on top. Then we used 2x6's on edge and filled the cavity with rigid foam insulation. This is topped with a sheathing of plywood, more felt, and the roof shingles.
I had a roofer out the other day, and he suspects the culprit is the ridge vent. His thinking is that the roof pitch of 8/12 is too great for the 9" vent that was installed on the roof. He says it barely covers the opening in the plywood that allows for airflow, and that it should have been a 12" vent. He also says the roof shingles were cut flush with the edge of the existing vent instead of overhanging a bit, which all leads to air flowing too freely into the vent, causing the noise.
So we are going to rip the old vent off, and replace with a new 12" Coravent Extreme....I'll let everyone know if this works!