Simple! What are these small square black boxes on the roof?

by Jim Ginas

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I know my two ROUND ATTIC Fans. There are SMALLER SQUARE boxes on my roof and I am curious what these black squared things are?

simple what are these small square black boxes on the roof

9 answers

The Garden Frog with C Renee on Aug 07, 2014
those are roof vents

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- Jim Ginas on Aug 07, 2014
  @The Garden Frog with C Renee Thank you. We assumed some type of venting system, but with the Attic Fan (I actually had a 2nd one added), wasn't sure. So these just aid in letting out hot air?
  
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- The Garden Frog with C Renee on Aug 07, 2014
  Yes. The more heat you let out the better off your roof is
  
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Z on Aug 07, 2014
That is correct. Not all homes have these types of vents. Ours have ridge vents that go across the very peak of the roof, but we've had these in past homes.

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- Jim Ginas on Aug 19, 2014
  @Z - ok. I did read about the ridge vents. I figured it's better to ask than to stay ignorant that I don't know what is on my house and I don't learn!
  
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- Z on Aug 20, 2014
  @I couldn't agree more Jim. One of my favorite things to say when someone asks me what they think might be a "stupid question" is, "there isn't such a thing as a stupid question, when you don't know the answer. How else are you going to learn?" I'm always asking questions myself or researching something. I love to learn new things.
  
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- Jim Ginas on Aug 21, 2014
  @Z Thank you Becky!! very helpful!
  
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- Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com on Aug 25, 2014
  @Z I looked at the video, They can not be so more wrong. The moisture they talk about? Its coming from a poorly air sealed attic. The fan only pulls this in faster from the house. For the amount the fan cost that would be about the same cost for the sealant needed to prevent the moisture from getting up there in the first place. Guess where that moisture comes from. yup, you got it, the inside of the house that your trying to keep moist in the winter. And guess where the air comes from that pulls up into the attic with the moisture? Got that right also. It pulls into the house from the basement or crawl spaces, As it does this it brings in more dust and unfiltered air that the system needs to recondition, This causes the house to become dirty, requires more energy to heat and cool, brings in mold from outside. The bottom line is if the house is properly air sealed, both attic and basement. And the proper methods are used to insulate. And the correct amount of ventilation is used based upon the roof size. There is no reason what so ever to have a fan installed. Its just another motor that uses energy. Plus another hole in the roof that will eventually leak. This is the typical propaganda that convinces people to have these installed. Did you know if your HVAC system is located in the attic and you simply air seal the ducts to prevent the attic heat from getting into the ducts at all the joints, then properly insulate them your energy use can drop by as much as 30%! That's a lot of money to save for about $15 dollars in sealant and about $150 in insulation properly applied. That's about half the cost of a fan.
  
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- Z on Aug 29, 2014
  @Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com Thank you Bob. I deleted that link so as not to confuse others.
  
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- Kristen Rikli on Apr 21, 2015
  @Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com What is a HVAC System? Is it normally put in an attic?
  
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- Z on Apr 21, 2015
  HVAC stands for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning, @Kristen Rikli.
  
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Jim Ginas on Aug 25, 2014
OK, SO one more QUESTION please... what is the silver STACK on the house? Is that for the vent in the kitchen (above stove??)?

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- Z on Aug 25, 2014
  @Jim, that one I cannot answer without some doubts on my part, so I'll get Bob from @Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com here to help you.
  
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Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com on Aug 25, 2014
Black are roof vents. Silver is a chimney for a heating system. Not a vent for stove, Round is attic fan, Remove. Not wanted or needed. Its preventing the heat to be pulled out of the house properly.

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Jim Ginas on Aug 25, 2014
Thanks NJ. I actually have two attic fans, Lomancos. They do keep the attic pretty cool in the summer here. so heating system chimney? we have Gas heat, so no idea... thanks.

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- Kristen Rikli on Apr 21, 2015
  @Jim G I'm glad you asked these questions. I knew about the roof vents, but not all of the other info. Thanks!
  
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Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com on Aug 25, 2014
Guess what, the fans use more energy then they save you in cooling costs. If the house is properly insulated and air sealed. There is no reason at all to use it. Using two fans if a common attic is even worse.

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Wanda Arganbright on Apr 21, 2015
I live in the Texas panhandle, and I have eave vents along with round attic vents that are electric and are thermostatically controlled. When me attic reaches a certain temperature the automatically turn on and pull the heat out of the attic. These have saved me about $150 during the hottest part of the summer!

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Kristen Rikli on Apr 21, 2015
I thought it must be something like that, but I don't understand how that could be done in the attic. Do people really have a furnace in their attic?

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Katz215 on Jun 29, 2016
My furnace is in my attic. And as for the fans, mine would turn on when it got really hot in the attic. No amount of insulation is going to keep an attic cool during the hot summer months.

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- Jim Ginas on Jun 29, 2016
  Yup, it definitely gets much warmer, BUT is MUCH cooler with the two fans on. We've also noticed our electric bills (and gas in winter) significantly lower since added insulation in attic, new crawl space vapor barrier. could be a coincidence, but I'm glad for it.
  
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