Looking for a way to cool down your home during summer? The answer is ventilation. 

Ventilating your roof allows the hot air to escape and cooler air to enter in. It helps to make your home more comfortable, more energy efficient and more eco-friendly. 

If you’re thinking about installing ventilation in your home, then  you may be wondering which option is best for you. In this blog, we’re taking you through the pros and cons of two popular ventilation choices: whirlybirds and solar vents, to make your decision easier. 

Whirlybirds

Whirlybirds are one of the most common types of roof ventilation. A whirlybird is a cylindrical dome that spins in the wind, creating a vacuum which extracts warm air from the roof cavity.

Some of the benefits of whirlybirds include: 

• Cheap
• Easy to install
• Require little maintenance  

However, whirlybirds depend on airflow to function properly. If there’s no wind, then it will reduce how effectively it can ventilate your home. This is especially important during dry, hot summers, when there is little breeze. 

Other disadvantages of whirlybirds include:

• Can’t be turned off during winter (making your home lose heat)
• Can become very noisy on windy days
• Prone to catch debris, dust and leaves
• Requires lubrication and cleaning
• Can be damaged by severe weather

Whirlybirds can be less efficient than other forms of ventilation. For the average Australian home, it would take 10-12 whirlybirds to properly cool the house. This is not only expensive, it also impacts on your home’s aesthetic appearance. Hence why you may consider other options like solar vents. 

Solar Vents

A solar vent uses solar power to cool your home. It contains small solar panels which power an exhaust fan inside the frame. It does the same job as a whirlybird, but is more effective.

Advantages of solar vents include:

• Only functions when you need it to (controlled by a thermostat)
• Also comes with rechargeable lithium battery, which can continue to operate the fan for up to four hours after the sun goes down
• Quieter than whirlybirds
• More efficient 
• A single solar vent removes as much hot air as 10 whirlybirds!
  
  

One of the disadvantages of solar vents is that they don’t operate at night. While this may be a consideration for you, it's important to remember that overnight temperatures are generally cooler than during the day.

Looking to Ventilate your Roof?

Whether you need to install ventilation, do a full roof replacement or fix a leaking roof, Roo Roofing has experienced and qualified tradesmen who can handle anything.

If you need advice on your roof, talk to one of our experts today.

Get in touch today for a free assessment and quote.